From Around the City to Around the World, 

This Artist is Still Going Places

Danielle M Chery of DMC Original Art

By Maureen Klein

Perhaps you spotted her colorful tiles at the Brooklyn Makers Fair while touring AJ Madison’s showroom during our last NYCxDesign tour. That’s where Charle-John Chifero met the talented Danielle M Chery and introduced her to NKBA. Several celebrities have discovered her work too, including R&B singer Brandy, Kandi Burruss and actress Tabitha Brown, all who have her art gracing their homes. So how did this college journalism major change course and find a whole new world of opportunities?

Danielle, what was your very first job?

At fourteen, I participated in a summer youth program as a video productions assistant. It was really cool, I worked with and managed professional cameras to help produce a student-led show. 

You mentioned how a nonprofit helped you determine a career path, how so?

I helped mobilize volunteer artists to beautify community spaces. I was so impressed by their creativity and passion for the arts, it inspired me to take up art as a hobby and eventually led me to form an arts-based business- DMC Original Art.  

What were some of the other career stops along your journey? 

I’m also a published children’s author, teacher, and have worked with nonprofit organizations for nearly a decade supporting community education programs. As a teaching artist, I work with high school students around the city to explore textile design and teach the basics of entrepreneurship. Students work with fabrics, paints, and other art supplies to create mood boards and art pieces that are then transferred and printed on fabric. It’s great hands-on experience and an introduction to the textile business industry for the students.

One organization in particular I enjoy working with is Sing for Hope. Professional artists paint donated pianos that are then placed in public spaces for community enjoyment. I’ve painted three pianos so far! 

TIP: See how she does it HERE ! 

Do you ever need donated fabrics, tiles,… or even pianos? Some of our readers might have supplies they would love to donate to a school outreach program.

Materials for the Arts is a great place to drop off donations for creative reuse. And Sing for Hope takes used pianos! They have a place where pianos are collected, stored and painted. Here you can see and hear one of my painted pianos being beautifully played by renowned composer and pianist, Harold O’Neal. What a nice way to shop in Hudson Yards.

I see you got your BA while studying Journalism at SUNY New Paltz, but sounds like you have had other continuing educational experiences and successes as well.

Always wanting to learn, I graduated from the Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women in Business program in June 2024. Two years earlier I was named the Home Goods Business Of the Year by the Buy From A Black Woman organization (BFABW), and won the Brooklyn Public Library PowerUp! Business Plan Competition.

You said you like to hike! How have your “treks” added to your artistic journey?

I love hiking! Much of my inspiration comes from exploring nature and the colors I find along trails in different parts of the world. And I love to travel! I’ve been lucky enough to explore 35 countries across 6 continents, and much of my adventures have been the inspiration behind my artwork. Trips to Mexico, Morocco, and Portugal have influenced my interest in tile design and I’m really excited about the new collection of tiles I launched this year! 

Travel is definitely in your DNA and what's that Remote Year program you talked about?

I lived and studied in Australia for about 5 months when I was in college.

I’ve also traveled with a group of 50 strangers through a program called Remote Year. Each month we lived and worked in a different city around the world and enjoyed local experiences. During one of our stops in Thailand, I volunteered to teach English at a refugee camp on the border of Myanmar.

It’s no wonder Danielle’s bucket list includes her dream to design tiles for boutique hotels, airports and restaurants around the world. Certainly a way to continue her love of travel and art! For more, visit her blog to see how she experiments with color.

Danielle relaxes near one of her art pieces.

Here Danielle teaches at a refugee camp in Thailand, just across the border from Myanmar.

Designers work with Danielle to create custom tiles for their kitchen and bath projects.