Artist Statement
Dear Salem Arts Association,
My name is Anna Marie Nocente, and I am excited about the opportunity to join your organization and connect with the vibrant artist community here in Salem. I’m a clothing designer by profession, and while I don’t have a traditional fine art résumé, I am including my education and a link to my LinkedIn profile which describes my professional experiences highlighting my creative background and technical expertise.
About ten years ago, my husband Dan and I began exploring ways to merge our creative passions. Dan is an abstract painter whose work is deeply inspired by the truths of nature. He often says that nature never lies, and it is his role as an artist to interpret those truths in a personal and profound way through bold color, movement, and texture. He works primarily in oil, creating large-scale pieces that speak to the energy and emotional depth of the natural world.
Our collaboration is a conversation between form and color, function and expression. As a clothing designer and Dan as the abstract artist, we each bring a distinct language. One is rooted in construction, the other in intuition. Together, we create one-of-a-kind tote bags that are as practical as they are poetic.
Each piece begins with hand-painted acrylic on canvas or recycled French linen, materials chosen not only for their beauty and durability, but also for their history and character. Abstract brushstrokes, layered textures, and vibrant color stories are painted directly onto fabric, turning raw material into a living work of art. From there, I translate each painted surface into a functional tote bag, thoughtfully crafted to honor the movement and spontaneity of the artwork. No two pieces are alike; each one is a wearable artifact of our shared process.
Our collaboration, Danna Design, is an exploration of cross-disciplinary craft, where art meets design, and everyday objects become vehicles for storytelling, individuality, and creative dialogue.
