Based in Boston, Diana Willand is a self-taught acrylic painter who specializes in abstract portraiture and graphic illustration. She's inspired by the natural world, mythology, art history, and her love for antique 'things.' Willand has been showcased in the Naturalist Gallery of Contemporary Art, Exhibizone, Gallerium, and many more. Beers London has described her work as having a “clear voice, a confident visual language, and a genuine emotional core to the work.”

Black Cat Sustainable Art Co.

Black Cat Sustainable Art Co. proudly works to maintain sustainable practices in the creation of our art. We use recycled glass, canvas, fabric, wood, various types of antiques, and more in the creation of our art. We are passionate about creating art that the everyday person can consume and afford, whether that be through glass bottles turned into homewares or glass jars turned into handmade candles.

Artist Statement

Diana Willand paints like a writer. Her paintings are meant to be read up close and seen standing back; each painting shares a new chapter of complicated emotion. Seemingly simplified and loudly quiet, with abstract shapes and black outlines, landscapes and portraits become, at first glance, simple. From the materials used to the choice of cheek-color, Willand’s paintings shout to the viewer that an emotion must be expressed and noticed at any cost. The bright colors, intense outlines and strange compositions make Willand’s work—her innermost struggles and confusions—beg to be seen by anyone who will choose to read between the brushstrokes. Beers London notes that “The expressions, the colour choices, even small details like the placement of blush or pattern, all contribute to a sense that these works are carrying something personal and unresolved beneath their surface.”