Donald Depuydt is an artist in full command of his discipline. A fine art professor at Northern Virginia Community College’s Loudoun campus, Depuydt’s printmaking resonates with a pathos evocative of ancient ruins and sacred haunts. Geometric abstractions and organic shapes play against each other as buried imagery reveals itself from under layers of etched lines––an Ionic column here, a Byzantine arch there.

“I would like the ambiguity to allow for many different interpretations,” says Depuydt, who is captivated by mythology, ancient rites and sacred geometry. “Although my images are not meant to illustrate specific myths or ritual acts, I hope they hint or suggest many.” Depuydt works mostly with etching and lithography. What makes Depuydt’s art distinctive from others is that characteristically he reworks a plate that he’s already used, thus incorporating remnants of previous images into the new work. “This element of history and evolution is an important part of art for me and becomes a ritual in itself,” says Depuydt.

Originally from southern Minnesota, Depuydt received an M.F.A. in printmaking from Indiana University after acquiring a B.F.A. from Mankato State University in Minnesota. He taught at DePauw University and Indianapolis Art League until 1992. He has been exhibiting his work in both group and solo shows since 1987 and received numerous awards in printmaking.