Diane Di Bernardino Sanborn
Professional Artist and Educator
Diane Di Bernardino Sanborn is a nationally recognized contemporary artist and educator whose work is held in university galleries, public spaces, and private collections across the country.
Education & Professional Honors
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M.F.A. in Drawing and Painting: Governors State University
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B.S. in Art Education: Illinois State University (Studied under Professors Emeritus Harold Gregor and Kenneth Holder)
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Associate of Arts: Triton College
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Residencies: Recipient of an Ox-Bow residency (School of the Art Institute) and a 2018 residency at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, VA.
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Awards: Voted "Most Outstanding Adjunct Faculty of the Year" (2012) and nominated for the Arizona Governor's Award for Best in Arts Education.
Insights & Creative Philosophy
The Visual Dialogue
Diane describes her process as "listening" to the work. With a deep internal database of aesthetic information, she engages in a conversation with each piece, allowing her intuition and the technical guidance of past mentors to lead the way. While her formal concerns are primarily abstract, she frequently incorporates the figure into her compositions.
Evolution of Style
Diane fluidly moves between themes, media, and series. While her work may shift styles from week to week, it remains consistently recognizable through her signature palette and authentic instincts. Her professional motto reflects her grounded approach: "Take my work very seriously, but never myself."
The Artist as Educator
Now based back in the Chicago area, Diane balances her studio practice with her role as a professor. While in AZ, she serves as the Advisor for the campus art club, ART Connections, where she recently guided students through a large-scale public installation project. She views her two careers as a symbiotic relationship—sharing "best practices" with students while learning modern marketing and social media trends from them.
Creating Opportunities
A key chapter in Diane's career involved relocating to Phoenix in 1990, where she learned to "unlearn" traditional paths and create her own opportunities. She successfully developed her own collectors' market and pioneered a "home show" concept that remains a proud professional milestone.
Contact & Portfolio
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Website: dianesanbornart.com
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Instagram: @diane.sanborn