Diana DeSantis studied at the Parsons School of Design, along with the Traphagen School of Design. In 1989 she was awarded a one-year scholarship by the Arts Students League and studied with David Leffel and Harvey Dinnerstein. DeSantis lives and works in New York.

Exhibitions

2005
Featured artist in international pastel exhibition, Verbania, Italy
2002-2003
Traveling Exhibition - The Hermitage, St. Petersburg, Russia; five museums in Northern Italy and Normandy, France.
2002
Nassau County Museum of Art, Long Island, New York
Heckscher Museum in Huntington, New York
National Arts Club in Gramercy Park, New York
Salmagundi Club, New York
Pastel Society Exhibitions in France, Italy, and Russia

One of Diana’s portraits is in a five-year Smith Kramer traveling exhibit and being shown in 14 museums nationally.

Awards

DeSantis has received 15 gold medals and over 200 awards, the most prominent of which are below:

International Association of Pastel Societies, Best in Show
Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, The Anna Hyatt Huntington Horse’s Head & the Bronze medal.
Society of Illustrators, The Norman Rockwell Museum Award
Knickerbocker Artist, Gold medal
Independent Art Society, Gold Medal
National Art League, Gold and silver medals
Suburban Art League, Gold Medal, Best in Show
Pastel Society of North Carolina, Best in Show
Pen and Brush, Margaret Sussman Award (twice)
New Rochelle Art Association, First Place
C.A.A. Ridgewood, First Place
Art League of Nassau County, President’s Award
Audubon Artists, Gold Medal

Diana is a member of and received awards from:

International Assoc. of Pastel Societies, Master Pastelist
Pastel Society of America, Signature Member
Knickerbocker Artists, U.S.A., Signature Member
American Artist Professional League, Fellow
Allied Artists of America
Hudson Valley Artists
Audubon Artists
Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club
Portrait Society of America

Collections

Portrait of August Gulden, the Gulden Memorial Pavilion in Southside Hospital, Bay Shore, NY

Publications

Cover artist, article inside, The Pastel Journal, June, 2004.
" Find A Great Subject Anywhere" by D. DeSantis, Pastel Artist International, 2000.
" Cast A Colorful Shadow" by D. DeSantis, The Artist Magazine, September 2000.
" Create Stronger Hands" by D. DeSantis, The Artist Magazine, January 1997.
Best of Pastel, DeSantis artworks included, Rockport Publishers, 1996 and 1998 editions.
Pastel Impressions, DeSantis artworks included, Rockport Publishers, 1997 edition.
Diana’s painting "Ainat" was in the top ten in the American Artist National competition, October 1997 issue.