‘It’s healing’: Artist brings incredible life experiences to her work

The first impression of the space Deya Thorin calls both home and studio in western Sioux Falls is the sheer quantity of art on the walls.

Abstract patterns of colors, detailed portraits and gorgeous landscapes hang above furniture and doorways, and more are covered in plastic and stored in a back room. 

All these pieces are created by Thorin herself at an easel standing in her kitchen. The craftsmanship of her work is striking, making it seem like she studied and worked in the art world professionally for years.

Thorin, however, is entirely self-taught. A mother of six children and grandmother of seven, she works full time as a Spanish judicial interpreter around the state.

But her life has drawn heavily on the arts as well. She has worked as a model and fashion consultant, and painted from time to time.

But it wasn’t until recently that she started painting on a consistent basis — the origin of many of the pieces currently hanging in her home. Her work has become so proficient that it is being featured at Piper Arts through Dec. 23. 

Thorin was born in the Dominican Republic and was exposed to a lot of beautiful scenery growing up, with easy access to the ocean and vibrant plant and animal life.

“There’s a vibe on the island,” she said.

While she had a desire for art from an early age, she didn’t have ready access to art supplies or an education. The person who first encouraged her artistic desires was her husband, Todd, a native of Sioux Falls; the pair met when he visited the island for a mission trip. Right after they were married, Todd bought her a box of art supplies to help her explore her interests

The couple moved to Utah in 1987 and then to Sioux Falls in 1990. The demands of raising six children, as well as her multiple career branches, often took precedent over fully exploring art. When her children grew up and left the house, she said she was able to immerse herself more fully into painting consistently.

Now, she’s transitioning from her job in the court system to working full time as an artist. About five years ago, she was painting once a week on Sundays. She now tries to spend time at her easel every day.

 “It comes out pretty fast now,” she said. “I feel like my soul is pretty colorful. I always have a canvas, something that I’m working on.”

Her work is an emotional outlet, one she describes as therapeutic. Anger, sadness, joy, curiosity — these and many other feelings drive her artistic process, whether they’re sparked in the moment or come from a place deep inside her. 

A consistent theme in her art is square shapes, often manifesting in doors or windows. If she’s feeling emotionally blocked by something in her life that she hasn’t fully processed, she will represent that with a closed door. When that feeling has left her, she represents it with open windows. 

“It’s healing,” she said.

Her oldest child, Joseph Thorin, remembers his mother working on little art projects here and there while growing up. 

“I probably got a more valuable art education experience from her colorful personality and the way that she is,” Joseph said. “Whether it was the way she dressed or the way she interacted with people, it was obvious that life was made to be enjoyed and animated and full of color.”

He has seen the impact made by her deeper exploration of painting, calling it an outlet for her to sort through her emotions and experiences.

“It’s a way to channel her own creative thoughts and sort them out,” he said. “Every person has a story to tell, and sometimes that story doesn’t come into focus until there’s this creative process that allows them to come to terms with all of it.”

As a self-taught artist, Thorin said every day she settles into painting can bring moments of discovery. For example, she has found her process while creating an abstract work stirs something inside her, a feeling she closes her eyes and curls her fingers to describe. 

“Something I like about abstract painting is the freedom,” she said. “It’s not confined, it’s almost like I can feel my fingers, there’s something about it that’s electrifying. It’s like music I can hear.”

Thorin also has contributed to the proliferation of arts in the community through her work on the board of directors of the Sioux Falls Arts Council. For about a year, she has worked with other board members on giving grants to support up-and-coming artists. 

She also is on the council’s community engagement committee. As a member of the arts community, she said she feels not enough local artists are known in the community. She wants to foster a sense of artistic love among residents, encouraging them to engage in the arts regardless of whether they have talent or ambition of their own. 

“My vision is that I want to bring the Sioux Falls community to love art and to look for art everywhere,” Thorin said. “It’s not only in museums; there’s art everywhere in Sioux Falls.”

Kellen Boice, executive director of the Arts Council, said she has enjoyed having Thorin on the board.

“She’s very active in the community with her work, and that’s a great thing to have board members out in the community creating art,” Boice said. “We want our board to be a smattering of artists as well as other business leaders in the community, and she kind of lives in both worlds.”

Patrons of Piper Arts at 1825 S. Minnesota Ave. will have the opportunity to see 16 of Thorin’s abstract paintings over the next few weeks. She said the paintings are a mix of new and old works. 

On Thorin’s website, the first words you see are “La vida es arte y el arte es vida,” which translates to “life is art, and art is life.” Thorin said she views the world and people around her through an artistic lens. 

“Every aspect of your life is artful,” she said. “The way that you breathe, the way that you smile and express yourself; everything is an influence. If you start observing people from the art point of view, there’s something amazing about human beings. There’s something about them that is special. There’s art in everything, and life is art.”

Her son said his mother came to the U.S. seeking some form of the American dream and that the obstacles she has had to navigate in the pursuit of this dream are evident in her work. Thorin echoed this sentiment, saying her motivation for painting comes down to one simple word: freedom. 

“I don’t feel like there’s a source of inspiration that will ever stop; it just comes from a place within me,” she said. “As long as I’m alive, I’ll be creating.”