Colin in front of one of his oil paintings
About Me
Based in Metro Detroit, Colin “The Ambidextrous Artist” Darke (b. 1977) has been creating art for as long as he can remember, with his passion and energy always evident.
Drawing inspiration from a variety of sources, he creates his art for a range of reasons that have evolved over time, including bringing joy and wonder to others and finding a form of self-meditation and calm amidst the stresses of everyday life.
Since 2019, Colin has gained worldwide recognition for his unique approach to art, drawing with both hands at the same time to create stunning images that have captured the attention of millions. His videos have been viewed over 100 million times, and his art has been praised by celebrities like P!nk, Andy Grammer, and Shakira.
Colin’s focus on bringing joy and comfort to others through his art has earned him a loyal following and numerous accolades. He was recognized by Gary Vaynerchuck’s #GaryVeeChallenge and was featured in two episodes of The Smithsonian Channel’s “Story of a Portrait.” The Gairdner Foundation even commissioned him to create portraits of their 2022 Canada Gairdner Award laureates.
At his core, Colin remains motivated by the simple desire to bring happiness to others through his art. Whether through his videos, works-in-progress, or finished paintings and prints, he is dedicated to sharing his passion with the world and inspiring others to find their own creative spark.
C.V.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2017, Detroit Visionaries, group exhibition, The Carr Center, Detroit, Michigan
2016, Don’t Stop Me Now, Call for Bushwick, Juror along with Sandro Bosi, Jeanne Brasile, Benjamin Krause, and John Seed, New York, New York
2012, Inspiring TheDetroiter.com, curator for group exhibition, Accelerator Gallery, Detroit, Michigan and Launch F18, New York, New York
2012, Michigan Fine Arts Competition, Juror: Mi-Kyoung Lee, juried group exhibition, Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, Birmingham, Michigan
2012, Beauty Debate, curator for group exhibition, Art Effect Gallery, Detroit, Michigan
2012, Hope against Odds, solo exhibition, Art Effect Gallery, Detroit, Michigan
2012, Sibling Revelry @ The Y, two person exhibition with Kelly Darke, Boll Family YMCA, Detroit, Michigan
2012, Homage, invitational group exhibition, River’s Edge Gallery, Wyandotte, Michigan
2011, Rebellion & Empowerment in Contemporary Art, Curator: Kianga Ellis, Kianga Ellis Projects, Brooklyn, New York
2011, DAM Small(er), juried group exhibition, Detroit Artist Market, Detroit, Michigan
2011, Actual Size Biennial, Juror: Aaron Timlin, invitational group exhibition, Whitdel Art Gallery, Detroit, Michigan
2011, Hope and Rules, solo exhibition, Michigan State University College of Law, Lansing, Michigan
2011, Word Play, Juror: Carole Harris, group exhibition, Grosse Pointe Art Center, Grosse Pointe City, Michigan
2010, ArtPrize, LaFontsee Galleries/ Underground Studio (host gallery), group exhibition, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2010, That DAM Box Show, juried group exhibition, Detroit Artist Market, Detroit, Michigan
2010, 18th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Juror: Rackstraw Downes (2009 MacArthur Fellow), juried group exhibition, Bowery Gallery, New York, New York
2010, artBlast, two person invitational exhibition with artist Susan Morosky, Robinson Gallery, Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, Birmingham, Michigan
2010, Members Group Exhibition and Competition, Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit, Detroit, Michigan
2010, Michigan Fine Arts Competition, Juror: Sondra Freckelton, juried group exhibition, Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, Birmingham, Michigan
2009, Sibling Revelry, River’s Edge Gallery, two person invitational exhibition with artist Kelly Darke, Wyandotte, Michigan
2008, Spring Fling and Silent Auction, group exhibition, Boston Nature Conservatory, Mattapan, Massachusetts
2008, L’Art, juried group exhibition, Boston University School of Law, Boston, Massachusetts
2005, Silent Auction for Hon. John R. Perry Memorial Scholarship, group exhibition, University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, Detroit, Michigan
2001, BFA Graduation Solo Show, solo exhibition, Rotunda Gallery, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan
2001, The Lounge at Home Group Show, group exhibition, Private Residence, Brighton, Michigan
2001, Manitou Island Group Show, group exhibition, Gallery II, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan
1999, International Workshops Group Show, group exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Glasgow, Scotland
REVIEWS/ARTICLES/MEDIA
2022, Story of a Portrait series, the Smithsonian Channel, May 27th and June 10 (https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=787508138886413)
2021, Ambidextrous artist wows TikTOk with his unique skill, Good Morning America, October 28 (https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/living/video/ambidextrous-artist-wows-tiktok-unique-skill-80823235)
2020, Ambidextrous Drawing, The Awesomer, March 19 (https://theawesomer.com/ambidextrous-drawing/564326/)
2020, Talented ambidextrous artist draws using both hands simultaneously, Magazine Features, quote, “he’s also able to use both hands simultaneously to create exquisite pieces of art.” News24 (South Africa), March 13 (https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Life/talented-ambidextrous-artist-draws-using-both-hands-simultaneously-20200313)
2020, Colorful portraits made with both hands at the same time, Flávio Croffi, Geekness (Brazil), March 10 (https://geekness.com.br/retratos-coloridos-feitos-com-as-duas-maos-ao-mesmo-tempo/)
2020, Ambidextrous Artist Draws Colorful Portraits Using Both of His Hands, Anon, Cutesy Pooh, March 9 (https://www.cutesypooh.com/ambidextrous-artist-draws-colorful-portraits-using-both-of-his-hands/)
2020, Watch as artist Colin Darke draws mesmerizing pieces with BOTH hands at the same time! amazing skill , Featured Post, 22Words, March 9 (https://www.facebook.com/22Words/videos/1490983777772390/?q=colin%20darke&epa=SEARCH_BOX)
2020, Ambidextrous Artist Draws Colorful Portraits Using Both of His Hands at the Same Time, Lori Dorn, quote, “Ambidextrous lawyer and artist Colin Darke creates amazing portraits of people and animals by using both of his hands at the same time.” Laughing Squid, March 6 (https://laughingsquid.com/drawing-using-both-hands-at-same-time/)
2020, Talented artist draws with two hands at the same time!, Featured Post, Daily Mail, March 4 (https://www.facebook.com/DailyMail/videos/633732384106819/)
2020, Viral Artist Drawing With Both Hands At The Same Time, Vejune Rimašiute, Bored Panda, March 3 (https://www.boredpanda.com/viral-artist-drawing-with-both-hands-at-the-same-time/?utm_source=newsbreak&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=organic)
2020, Colin Darke Posts Sped-Up Videos Drawing With Both Hands, Anita C., Mobi Spirit, March 3 (https://mobispirit.com/colin-darke-posts-sped-up-videos-drawing-with-both-hands/)
2020, Announcing The GaryVee Challenge “Best in Class”, Gary Vaynerchuck, February 4, https://www.garyvaynerchuk.com/bestinclass/
2017, The Art of Deal Making, Modern Counsel, magazine profile, Pamela Sornson, September 15, https://modern-counsel.com/2017/colin-darke-rocketloans/
2013, Canvas to Cameras, Motion Magazine, magazine profile, Brian Cox, March 19, https://modern-counsel.com/2017/colin-darke-rocketloans/
2012, Beauty Debate Interview, WDET radio station, Travis Wright, February 29
2012, Beauty Debate, a group invitational exploring the concept of beauty, Metro Times, Megan O’Neil, February 29
2012, “Beauty Debate”: The Detroiter’s First Annual Invitational Show Examines Role of Beauty in Art, The Huffington Post, Kate Abbey-Lambertz, (extensive interview), February 29
2012, Art World Comes to Detroit for a good cause, Motor City Blog, http://motorcityblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/art-world-comes-to-detroit-for-good.html, February 7
2011, Exhibit Highlight, Art Detroit Now Newsletter, http://www.artdetroitnow.com, October 13
2011, Artist of the Day, Art Sharks, http://blog.artsharks.net/, @artsharksnet, October 9
2011, People Making News, Detroit Free Press, August 14
2010, East Meets West (Side), Michelle Moran, Grosse Pointe Times, 3A, 7A, April 29
2010, Legal opinions or watercolor paintings, Colin Darke (’08) is your (renaissance) man, BU Law News, http://www.bu.edu/phpbin/news-cms/news/?dept=634&id=56413
2010, Rumblings, Lawyer’s art in N.Y. show, Crain’s Detroit Business, Vol. 26, No. 31, pg. 22, August 2—8
2010, DAM show carries on tradition, Michael H. Hodges, Detroit News, August 5
Commissions
