We were lucky to catch up with Dee Wolfe recently and have shared our conversation below.
Dee, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?
In high school, I got into art journaling using craft paint and other some supplies from Micheals that I was using for nail art at the time. Eventually art journaling and nail art turned into an interest in painting, so for my 16th birthday I spent all my birthday money on some art supplies from Blick Art Supply; canvas panels, acrylic paint in the tube, brushes, sponges the whole setup. I was drawing dreamcatchers often and decided I wanted to paint one, and I was also not out at the time, but I wanted to make some rainbow art. I painted a rainbow galaxy, and painted a dreamcatcher on top and I was in love with it so I shared it on social media. A classmate named Alia then told me she wanted to buy it, and that was the first time anyone had asked to buy my art. She then went on to become my first commissioned piece. I was 16 and a new artist, and now at 28 I have not stopped selling my artwork and creating work for others since. I felt seen, and valued, she walked around with the artwork for days before bringing it home, so the whole school got to see what I made, and I became known for my art which gave me the courage to apply for an art program. I graduated with my BFA in studio art with a concentration in painting in 2018, and currently live in my college town as a working artist. I’ve worked with many classmates from high school and college, some people underestimate the courage you can give your peers but that moment taught me I was on the right track, so I never stopped.
Dee, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’m Dee Wolfe, a Bronx-born, queer Jamaican American artist, graphic designer, and creative director living in the Adirondacks. For over a decade, I’ve dedicated my life to telling the stories of people with experiences like mine—to foster community and shine a light on topics that are often seen as taboo, especially for those of us with marginalized identities. My work is rooted in storytelling, nostalgia, trauma recovery, transformation, and transparency in order to fulfill my goal —using art and design as tools for healing, visibility, and empowerment. My multidisciplinary practice spans painting, digital art, pattern design, wearable pieces, and stationery, all deeply rooted in personal narrative and community-driven storytelling.
My Artistic Roots & Creative Process
I knew I was different from a young age. I saw the world a little brighter, colors a little bolder, and I just knew I wasn’t a typical kid. So, I treated the world like my personal playground whenever I had the chance. That sense of playfulness allowed me to create freely, finding joy in the process itself. Now, as an adult, I’m doing a lot of inner child healing—returning to the mediums I loved, embracing storytelling in a raw, youthful way, and using art to heal both myself and others.
My love for art started with the women in my family. My grandmother is a collector of beautiful things. Growing up, I was always surrounded by art, though I didn’t realize its full impact until I looked around as an adult. I can see now how my own work has been shaped just as much by the walls of my childhood home as it has by the great artists who inspire me. My grandmother was the first person to buy me watercolors, and my late, great Aunty Joy taught me how to crochet. Over the years, I’ve immersed myself in so many different mediums, but my passion for creating started with the small luxuries these women surrounded themselves with—hand-drawn recipes, decked-out china cabinets, and the magic of making something with your hands.
Growing up in a home filled with art and small luxuries, I found inspiration in the everyday beauty cultivated by the women in my family. This early exposure led me to embrace both traditional and digital mediums, blending the tactile richness of painting with the limitless possibilities of digital tools. It also showed me that reproductions of art have as much impact as original, as long as people have access it can change a life.
My current work is a lovechild of collage, writing, painting, and sometimes sculpture and 3D elements. I create pieces that capture both playfulness and chaos at the same time. The topics I explore in my work are often heavy, so I use an explosive, vibrant color palette to create a sense of balance. I want people to get lost in my work, discovering new details the longer they look, but also finding something to connect with—something that sparks conversation. I would describe my work as an optical illusion; you don’t always know what you’re looking at. Some 3D objects are actually 2D and vice versa. There are many moving parts that work together as a whole, and countless ways to relate to the imagery. But I hope that there’s always something in my work that resonates with people.
My artistic influences include Mickalene Thomas, Kehinde Wiley, and Titus Kaphar—artists who challenge dominant narratives and place Black people at the center of their own stories. It also includes musicians, writers, illustrators, sculptors, muralists, and even hair braiders because every art form inspires me to create. My work explores themes of mental wellness, childhood trauma, suicide, sexual assault, body dysmorphia, and the resilience of Black women, weaving together personal experiences with shared community struggles. I believe art is a space for collective healing, where people can see themselves, feel understood, and begin their own journey toward recovery and self-acceptance.
My inspiration also heavily comes from my journey. I’ve struggled with feeling loved and accepted and valuable my whole life, but the one thing I feel most qualified to explore in my art is my personal experience. My work delves into things like chronic illness, inner child healing, ptsd depression, homelessness and more. These are things I have firsthand experience with, but my work isn’t just about me. I draw from shared experiences to highlight a sense of community. I’m constantly inspired by the resilience of Black women, my own resilience and that of the people I’ve encountered throughout my life. I love storytelling and capturing moments, translating them into visuals that others can connect with.
My Work in Design & Nonprofit Initiatives
Beyond my fine art practice, I channel my creativity into design, community work, and storytelling-driven projects that empower others. I’m the founder of MoonRose Paper Co LLC. , a brand creating artwork, stationery, and resources for self-care, personal growth, and neurodivergent accessibility. I also run Dee’s Design Den, where I design wearable art, custom pieces, and home décor that celebrate identity, healing, and nostalgia. My work isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about crafting intentional, meaningful designs that speak to people on a personal level.
As a creative director and designer, I collaborate with nonprofits, wellness organizations, and BIPOC entrepreneurs to create mission-aligned visuals that foster connection and inspire change. I’ve worked with Business Women Brunchin INC., John Brown Lives!, TLC4ME Services, and House of Psalms (HOP23) to develop branding, digital media, workshops and visual storytelling that amplify their impact. With organizations like L & E Innovative Business Solutions, I merge artistry with social advocacy, using design to support marginalized communities and make space for conversations that matter.
Through Dee’s Design Den, I also host workshops, events, and community programs that center on healing and artistic expression. Whether it’s leading creative sessions or designing resources for artists navigating life’s challenges, I aim to make art accessible and empowering for everyone.
Bringing My Work to You
I create for collectors of all levels—whether you’re looking for a piece to hang in your gallery, wear on your clothes, or display in your home. I also work with brands that want unique, hand-painted designs that will wow their customers, and mission driven companies and organizations using holistic design as a community building tool. However you choose to experience my work, I invite you to find the best way to collaborate with me and bring something meaningful into your life.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is communicating in a way that makes people feel, and then think about what they are feeling. I don’t think as people we lean into the understanding that art is one of the most impactful means of communication, and art can truly be found in anything. From music to painting, the goal is to take an emotion or experience and translate it in a way that others understand, perhaps it’s the most complicated and rewarding game of telephone. I love when someone is viewing my work and I get the opportunity to discuss with them what they understand it to be about, and they are 100% correct in what message they received and my original intention. That sense of reward really gives me the courage to continue being vulnerable in my work, to take risks just to recreate that experience of others feeling seen and heard by what I poured out into the world. Now that my work includes music, poetry, photography, and both physical and digital paint, it feels completely immersive, almost like another world where anything is possible, and it’s rewarding when I can share that experience effectively.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
I think my true mission is to create until I simply cannot anymore, and allow others to bear witness to how that can truly change someone so deeply. I aim to translate my experience being someone who feels and thinks so intensely, and has gone through so many different experiences because of the many identities I hold at various underrepresented intersections. I spent most of my life thus far thinking I didn’t have a life worth living, and when I was healed from that level of darkness, I realized art in the various ways I practice it has been the most consistent thing in my life and has always made it worth living which is why I’m here, my purpose. To both change and save my own life, I followed what inspired me to create, I dedicated myself to expressing myself, through music, art, clothing, etc. and it turned out my ability to do that was hidden behind unpacking trauma, shame, fear, disability, attachment patterns, etc. once those mountains were climbed I had access to the world I used to spend time just dreaming of. My mission is to create work to highlight stories of women like me who often get left in the dark to fend for ourselves and our stories are untold. I hope to share resources along the way through my art, my platform, and my creations in order for others to feel like they too can create a life worth living whether they’re starting from the valley or the mountaintop, they are the authors to their own stories and it’s worth telling.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://deewolfedesign.com/portfolio
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwolfeart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoonRosePaperco
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Deesdesignden
- Other: Shop:
https://moonrosepaperco.com/
