Bio

Dana Caldera is an artist based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, whose pieces combine found collage material, handmade paper, textiles, painting, and printmaking. She earned her MFA at Houston Christian University and BS in Mechanical Engineering at Rice University, an interdisciplinary foundation that informs her process driven art-making. 

In 2026, Caldera will participate in Picnic, a 2-person show at Weatherhead Gallery at University of Saint Francis (Fort Wayne), and Family Linens, a solo exhibition at Artlink (Fort Wayne). She was invited to participate in the Pentaculum Artist Residency at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in the Fiber Arts cohort.

Caldera has had recent group shows at Artlink (Fort Wayne), Flatland Gallery (Houston), Weingarten Art Group (Houston), and a solo show at Box13 Art Space (Houston). She is a recipient of grants from the Wendy Wagner Foundation, the City of Houston, and the Indiana Arts Commission. Residencies include Atelierhaus Hilmsen and the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston’s CAMHLAB. Her work has been published in Photo Trouvée Magazine and books: Collage Care: Transforming Emotions and Life Experiences with Collage and Echoes of Yesterday. Her artwork can be found in public and corporate collections including Sweetgreen and The Doug and Laurie Kanyer Art Collection.

Through her art, Caldera embraces the slow and unpredictable process of working with water and time, combining different media and materials to layers both physical and conceptual. Caldera’s artwork references traditional and craft methodologies, imbued with a contemporary spirit. Her studio processes have roots in the traditional studio disciplines of painting, drawing, printmaking, fiber arts, and book arts. Her combinations bring a unique interpretation to the materials, demonstrating new possibilities and storytelling strategies. 

Artist Statement

My family was in the memory business, as many families are, cherishing our every-year traditions and rituals. I was raised by dinner-makers, hostesses, gardeners, decorators, bakers, and trip planners. Now I find myself as the one to give care, tell our stories, and establish family rituals, as one who has taken over the family business. Life moves in this repetitive way.

In my practice, I collect ephemera and physically deconstruct and remake these items into a new object. My monumental collages, handmade papers, and mixed-media paintings reference the traditional material language of craft, book arts, printmaking, painting, and collage. The resulting pieces are combinations made from mixed media, paper, and fabric, and can exist as hybrid quilts, tapestries, newspapers, or even murals.

Referencing the visual inspiration of an oft-repainted wall, quilting patterns, dish towels, table linens, recipes, serving dishes, and other objects of the domestic realm, my work investigates familial storytelling through the build up of material elements. Water, time, value, domestic labor, craft, memory keeping, and community are additional themes that run through my work.