BIO
Dana Todd Pope (1978), b. Dana Todd, is an award winning, interdisciplinary artist, curator, author, and gallerist from the South Side of Chicago. Her primary focus is capturing the lessor told stories of hope and resilience within the human experience, often using children as her subjects. Though painting and drawing are her primary areas of exploration, she regularly challenges herself in new mediums to continuously redefine the boundaries of her expression. Documenting cultural treasures is her calling and contribution to the very same pursuit.
Ms. Pope is the VISA She's Next award winning founder of Fearlessly Hue® a kid's room home décor line, sold on Walmart.com and Amazon. Dana is the author of "Know Money, Grow, Money," a children's picture book and the soon to be released children's picture book, "It's the Way You Treat Him." She is the co-founder and CEO of the Women's Live Artist Studio at Navy Pier, a gallery featuring the work of Chicago-based women artists and makers. She's also the recipient of several arts and business grant awards from Amazon, DePaul University, IFundWomen, Odyssey Media, Black Girl Ventures, The City of Chicago and others.
Dana has worked with several corporate partners including Walgreens, Vitamin Angels, The Design Museum of Chicago, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Metropolitan Family Services, the Better Boys Foundation and University of Illinois to name a few.
Dana has participated in artist residencies with the WNDR Museum, Navy Pier Chicago, Pigment INTL and Known Holdings on Martha's Vineyard to name a few. Currently, Dana is the co-curator and one of eighteen artists exhibiting with Women’s LIVE Artist Studio in the European Cultural Centre Italy's Personal Structures exhibition in Venice, Italy during the 60th Venice Biennale. She is also curator of Giving Her Her Flowers: A Fine Art Portrait Exhibition, a multi-city portraiture exhibition highlighting Black women in the arts. The first installment debuted in Martha's Vineyard August 1-September 27, 2024 and will travel to nine additional cities including Chicago in January 2025.
Ms. Pope resides in Chicago, Illinois with her two children Emory and BJ.
Chicago | info@danatoddpope.com | http://www.danatoddpope.com | 312.841.7561
​
CV- Dana Todd Pope, b. Dana Todd, 1978
Public Art Experience
2023-present; Women’s LIVE Artist Studio at Navy Pier, Co-founder and Co-owner
2025; “Giving Her Her Flowers: A Fine Art Portrait Exhibition Chicago Edition, Curated by Dana Todd Pope, Navy Pier Chicago
2024 Exhibiting Artist/ Co-curator; 60th Venice Biennale, European Cultural Center, Curated by Dana Todd Pope and Martha A. Wade
2024; “Giving Her Her Flowers: A Fine Art Portrait Exhibition, Curated by Dana Todd Pope, Oak Bluffs Public Library, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
2024; Commission, Building Brighter Futures Foundation, Midway Center, 6 works, Hand-Carved Wooden Wall Figures, 16 Total Works Commissioned over 2 years
2023; Commission, Metropolitan Family Services, Midway Center, 5 works, Hand-Carved Wooden Wall Figures, 44 Total Works Commissioned of 12 years
2023; Mural, Walgreens and Vitamin Angels
2022; Mural, Walgreens and Vitamin Angels
2021; Chicago Pedway Mural in partnership with Paint the City and the Chicago Loop Alliance
2020; Paint the City: Joffrey Ballet Mural, Erikson Institute Murals, Lyft Live Paint
2020; McKenzie Boys and Girls Clubs of America; Sun Prairie, WI
​
​
Awards and Honors
2023 SCOPE International Contemporary Art Show Curatorial Award
2022; Amazon Black Business Accelerator Connect 100 Fellow and Grant Recipient
2022; Sponsored by SECC and Pigment International to attend the Venice Biennale for 10 days
2022; Black Girl Ventures Chicago Pull Up and Pitch 1st Place Winner
2022: Chi Biz Strong Grant Recipient
2021: Sunshine Enterprises and AKArama INC Shark Tank Pitch Competition 1st Place Winner
2021; VISA She’s Next Grant Recipient
2021; SECC Equitable Investment in the Arts Fellow and Grant Recipient
2021; Black Girl Ventures Foundation sponsored by Nike Change Agent Fellow and Grant Recipient
2020; Odyssey Media Keys to Success Recipient
2020; Richard and Tina Knowles Lawson WACO Wearable Art Gala Auction Artist
​
​
Publications
Todd Pope, Dana; “Know Money, Growww Money” Children’s Picture Book, 2012
Todd Pope, Dana; “It’s the Way You Treat Him” Children’s Picture Book, Coming Spring 2025
​
​
Documentaries
2023; “Dear Black Artist,” Rachel Gadson, ILA Creative Studio
2023; “Tracing Our Path Through Bronzeville,” Reginald Rice, Feels So Reel Productions
Notable Exhibitions
2024; Exhibiting Artist/ Co-curator; 60th Venice Biennale, European Cultural Center
2024; “Giving Her Her Flowers: A Fine Art Portrait Exhibition, Curated by Dana Todd Pope
2021; Richard and Tina Knowles Lawson WACO Wearable Art Gala Auction
2021, 2019; Spectrum Art Fair (Art Miami/ Art Basel)
2019; Twitter Corporate Offices Blackbirds Art Exhibition
2019; DuSable Museum of African American History- A Smithsonian Affiliate, 1619 Exhibition for Black Fine Art Month
2019; Afropunk, Brooklyn
2019; Afropunk, Paris, France
​
​
Speaking Engagements
2024; BESLA Featured Speaker, Chicago Regional Fireside Chat, Bridgeport Arts Center
2024; ILA Panelist, Connect Gallery
2022; Black Girl Ventures, Chicago Cohort, Girls Just Wanna Have Funds Guest Speaker
2022; Black Girl Ventures, The Omi Show Chicago Guest Host
2021; The Audacity, Sunshine Enterprises Annual Convening Around Supporting Entrepreneurs in Chicago’s Under-Resourced Communities, Metropolitan Club of Chicago
2021; Moderator, Black Girl Ventures Chicago Pitch “CEO Talk” Panel
2021; SBA Small Business Week Access to Capital for Black and Brown Founders Sponsored by VISA
2021; Techstars Chicago Startup Week Panelist- Behind the Art: The Intersection of Art, Technology and Entrepreneurship
​
​
Press
2024; ABC News, Women's LIVE Artist Studio now at Navy Pier, Chicago, featuring over 30 female artists
2024; CBS-2 Chicago, Sunshine Enterprises hosting “Shark Tank” style pitch competition for entrepreneurs
2024; Chicago Reader, The Women's LIVE Artist Studio aims to inspire - Chicago Reader
2024; FOX-32, Black History Month proudly on display at Navy Pier exhibit | FOX 32 Chicago
2023; WTTW’s Chicago Tonight, Chicago Tonight | Navy Pier Exhibit Showcases Artists in an Untraditional Way | Season 2023 | WTTW
June 22, 2020; New City- Paint the City Offers Visual Resistance Against Racism (Mural Photo Credit)
2021; LoopChicago.org - More Public Spaces Reopen In The Loop: The Pedway And The Gateway On The State And Lake Median