BIOGRAPHY

Paul Deo is a visionary artist revolutionizing the integration of spirit and technology. Growing up between New York City and New Orleans, he found early inspiration in the Apollo Theater performances of soulful artists and dancing in the streets to the second line parades of New Orleans, absorbing the rich flavors of both cultures. His psychedelic historical paintings and murals illuminate many areas throughout NYC. In 2019 New York Magazine voted his renowned, mixed media mural, “Planet Harlem” as one of New York City’s Best Places to Visit. 

From painting street gang jackets as a 7-year-old to his current work designing in 3D virtual reality space, as winner of NY Foundation of the Arts’ Electronic Arts Fellowship 2023, Deo puts his heart and soul into everything he does. With a degree in Information Technology, he has continued to explore the connections between left and right brain to tap into infinite creative potential. Inspired by his work with refugee orphans from Guatemala and Honduras, he developed MyndTeam, an Intelligent Personal Assistant which allows users to create personalized teams of advisers in cyberspace. 

As Artist in Residence at Harvard University, Paul worked with students and local Native American tribes to merge an understanding, teamed with Augmented Pictures and created the first augmented reality mural on the campus. In 2019, he was honored to be selected by visionary director Spike Lee to paint the official mural for his 30th Anniversary celebration of the film, “Do The Right Thing.” 

Through his StuDeo company, Paul is known for sparking inspiration with his uplifting and energetic art teaching style. His students include incarcerated, at risk high school teens, and young people from elementary to college level. Most recently, he received the prestigious Carnegie Hall NeON Arts Grant and used it to start StarSeed World, digital arts entrepreneur school. Through StarSeed and StuDeo, Paul continues to embody his vision of opening the doors to the infinite potential of digital technologies and imagination to help his students heal, entertain and become financially independent

ARTIST STATEMENT

Spinning inspirational stories visually allows for an inclusive experience, allowing all to access the power of imagination. Ancestral oral tradition and modern myths meet, creating a world for viewers to tap into their childlike imaginative abilities, regenerating a sense of balance among contemporary obstacles. I work to reach that doubt in the subconscious that prevents freedom of expression and ambition toward one’s visionary dreams.
 
I create art that evokes the collective, drawing upon ancestral oral tradition as well as threads of modern mythology in order to establish a space for communal dialogue.  Essentially, the murals, multimedia projects, sculptures and canvas works are crafted with the vision of telling a story that seeks to engage and inspire absolutely everyone.  Lives of people like Martin Luther King, Fela Kuti, Emma Goldman, Romare Bearden, Harriet Tubman, and the Mirabal Sisters are carefully researched, and then rendered.  Each study is developed into a visual biography, unfolding pivotal moments in history, and concentrate on themes that heal, preserve, and bond.  I carefully select and depict events in the lives of iconic figures that speak of inspiration, change, and triumph over what most would consider the “odds”.  Creative visualization, imagination, and dreamscapes are constructed to bridge familiar subjects with a world of possibilities and inspiration. 
 
Growing up,  I moved back and forth from New York City to New Orleans.  My inspiration came from my aunt Auressa Moore who was a fine arts artist.  She taught me various art techniques while she was a student at the School of the Visual Arts in New York City.  She exposed me to the Apollo Theater in Harlem and my art aesthetics were born.  I saw art and the Apollo Theater experiences as ONE in spirit.  I remember James Brown entering the stage already sweating.  Was he dancing backstage getting ready to take us to the cosmos?  I think so.  I wanted to BE James Brown.  I wanted the ability to take people to their highest joyful feeling, GIVING and over-delivering that Love with effort and imagination.  I loved basketball and how Michael Jordan represented his love for life through his passion for winning.  For me,  over delivering is the way of allowing God to shine through you.
 
Studying astrophysics and astronomy has influenced my perspectives on art.   There is more unknown than known about our life and our universe.  When I look up to the stars or clouds,  I know the pure spirit is there.  I equate the black hole with our subconscious mind.  Experts say we only use 10% of our brain.  What is in that remaining 90% of our brain?  What is beyond light ? Infinity.   When I create I trust my subconscious mind to lead.  I connect traditional art with digital technologies merging art and science just as merging left and right brain.  I smile with those amazing, organic, spontaneous clouds, stars and colors designed to give hope to EVERYONE .   In this I trust, it is beyond man, beyond end.  I create so that a homeless child can smile and become motivated to share their Light with the world to levels of HOPE beyond anyone’s expectations.