BIOGRAPHY
Dana Todd Pope, 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 now closed gallery that featured the work of Chicago-based women artists and makers. She's also the recipient of several arts and business grant awards from VISA, 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, Willis Tower Watson, 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. In 2024, Dana was 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, then Chicago in February 2025-April 2025, and will travel to eight additional cities in the future.
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
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Curatorial Experience and Cultural Leadership
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May 2023-May 2025; Women’s LIVE Artist Studio Gallery at Navy Pier, Co-founder, Co-Curator, and Co-owner
2025; “Giving Her Her Flowers: A Fine Art Portrait Exhibition Chicago Edition, Three Month Run, Curated by Dana Todd Pope, Navy Pier Chicago
2024; Hamptons Fine Art Fair, Exhibiting Artist/ Co-curator
2024; “Giving Her Her Flowers: A Fine Art Portrait Exhibition, Curated by Dana Todd Pope, Oak Bluffs Public Library, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
2024; 60th Venice Biennale, Exhibiting Artist/ Co-curator, European Cultural Centre- Italy, Seven Month Run
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Public Art Experience/
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2025-present; Two Murals, K.I.P.P. Bloom Primary School
2025; “Giving Her Her Flowers: A Fine Art Portrait Exhibition Chicago Edition, Three Month Run, Curated by Dana Todd Pope, Navy Pier Chicago
2024; “Giving Her Her Flowers: A Fine Art Portrait Exhibition, Curated by Dana Todd Pope, Oak Bluffs Public Library, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
2024-present; Commission, Building Brighter Futures Foundation, Midway Center, 6 works, Hand-Carved Wooden Wall Figures, 16 Total Works Commissioned over 2 years.
2011-present; 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- present; 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 Mural
2020-present; McKenzie Boys and Girls Clubs of America; Sun Prairie, WI, 21 works installed
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Notable Exhibitions
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Upcoming August 2027; Solo Exhibition; Because Being Black in a White Space is a Real Thing...; Chicago, IL
Upcoming August 2026; Kulture Gallery Exhibition; Waldorf, Maryland
Upcoming July/ August 2026; Island Life Gallery Exhibition; Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
Upcoming August 2026; Harlem Fine Art Show; Sag Harbor, New York
2026; Harlem Fine Art Show, New York
2024; Hamptons Fine Art Fair
2024; Exhibiting Artist/ Co-curator; 60th Venice Biennale, European Cultural Center-Italy
2025; “Giving Her Her Flowers: A Fine Art Portrait Exhibition, Curated by Dana Todd Pope, Navy Pier, Chicago
2024; “Giving Her Her Flowers: A Fine Art Portrait Exhibition, Curated by Dana Todd Pope, Oak Bluffs Public Library, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
2023; SCOPE Miami Beach International Contemporary Art Show, Curator & Exhibiting Artist, Women’s LIVE Artist Studio
2022; EXPO Chicago
2020; 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
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Awards and Honors
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2026; ARISE Entrepreneur Program Community Service Award honoring 15 years of Service
2026; Flourish Art Accelerator Party With A Purpose; Grant Finalist and Exhibiting Artist
2023; SCOPE Miami Beach International Contemporary Art Show, Curatorial Award (Art Basel/ Art Miami Week)
2022; Amazon Black Business Accelerator Connect 100 Fellow and Grant Recipient
2022; Sponsored by SECC and Pigment International to attend the 59th 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
2015; Featured Artist, 37th Annual Chicago Jazz Festival, Created the Official Poster
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Publications
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Upcoming Fall 2026; Todd Pope, Dana; “It’s the Way You Treat Him” Children’s Picture Book,
2024; European Cultural Centre-Italy, Personal Structures, 60th Venice Biennale
2024; Romain, Jonathon, “Change That Narrative” Book, Featured Artist
2015; Cover Artist, 37th Annual Chicago Jazz Festival Official Program & Street Light Signs, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events (DCASE)
2012; Todd Pope, Dana; “Know Money, Growww Money” Children’s Picture Book
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Films/ Documentaries
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2023; “Dear Black Artist,” Rachel Gadson, ILA Creative Studio
2023; “Tracing Our Path Through Bronzeville,” Reginald Rice, Feels So Reel Productions
Speaking Engagements​
2026; Black Girl Ventures Pull Up & Pitch Chicago Champion Judge, Chicago Event Host
2026; Black Girl Ventures Pull Up & Pitch TikTok Champion Judge,
2024; BESLA Featured Speaker, Chicago Regional Fireside Chat, Art and AI, 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
Advisory Boards/ Service
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2025-Present; Sunshine Enterprises Advisory Council, Advisory Member for Artists and Makers
2024- Present; Small Business Development Corporation- Chicagoland Chamber, Community Advisory Member representing Artists and Makers
2010- Present; ARISE Entrepreneur Program, Mentor and Creative Workshop Creator & Facilitator
Press
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2026; WGN, Live painting on Chicago Spotlight
2026; PBS/ WTTW Chicago N'Digo Studio with Hermene Hartman
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; PBS/ WTTW’s Chicago Tonight, Chicago Tonight | Navy Pier Exhibit Showcases Artists in an Untraditional Way | Season 2023 | WTTW
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