Denis Gaston, from West Virginia, grew up in Florida and received a BA in Art and Design from the University of Florida. First working as a graphic designer in Atlanta, Gaston returned to Florida in 1984 and embarked on a fine art career. He has maintained a studio since 1986 in the Gulf Coast cities of Dunedin and Clearwater.
Gaston’s mixed-media paintings and drawings are rendered in oil, acrylic, wax, collage, and other materials. His spontaneous and intuitive style draws inspiration from many world cultural traditions. Masks and indigenous art hold special attractions for him.
Ken Rollins, past Director of the Tampa Museum of Art, states that “Denis Gaston is an important Florida artist whose paintings address the human spirit in all of its manifestations."
Lennie Bennett, art critic for the St. Petersburg Times, wrote that “Gaston’s paintings have the primal, evocative feel of ancient cave drawings.”
The Tampa Tribune’s Jenny Carey called Gaston “A dedicated artist whose mixed media paintings are distinguished and thought provoking.”
In 1990 Gaston was honored with a State of Florida Individual Artist Fellowship, and his art is included in the Florida Art in State Buildings Collection. He has participated in hundreds of exhibitions and one can find his work in private and public collections throughout the United States. In Florida Gaston’s art works are included in the Polk Museum of Art, Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, Raymond James Financial Corporation, Holland and Knight Law Firm, Stetson University College of Law, St. Petersburg College and Eckerd College.