DEITIES, HEROES, VILLAINS, AND SAINTS
In this series, I am looking at the human propensity to imagine or create, fear or
admire, worship or condemn larger-than-life entities, whether in the shape of other humans, animals, spirits, or magical hybrids.
These characters often embody exaggerated versions of human qualities - admirable or reprehensible - and may inspire communal unity or war; great acts of courage or crippling fear.
I am intrigued by our fascination with these personae, who can serve as cautionary tales as often as positive role models.
With "Deities, Heroes, Villains, and Saints,"
I am investigating our tendency to project ourselves onto them, or to be influenced, even controlled, by them.
Kathryn Dunlevie
Roman goddess of protection, often accompanied by snakes archival pigment print on panel (from a handmade collage) 37" x 45" 2013
A sufi mystic, The Green One archival pigment print on panel (from a handmade collage) 22" x 20.5" 2015
A Dutch exotic dancer and courtesan who was convicted, possibly wrongly, of being a spy for Germany during WWI archival pigment print (from a hand-made collage) on wood panel 26" x 27" 2013
Patron saint of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles archival pigment print (from a hand-made collage) on wood panel 39" x 53" 2015
The blind prophet Apollo in Thebes who spent seven years as a woman archival pigment print (from a hand-made collage) on wood panel 47" x 33" (study: 21" x 14.75") 2024
Greek goddess of strife discord, and war archival pigment print (from a hand-made collage) (study: 21" x 27.75") 2025
Feminine figure in Mesopotamian and Jewish mythology symbolizing chaos, rage, sexuality, and the shadow side archival pigment print (from a hand-made collage) on wood panel 47" x 33" (study: 21" x 14.75") 2021
Self-decapitated Hindu goddess of contradictions archival pigment print (from a hand-made collage) on wood panel 35.5" x 22" 2025
The naiad Salmacis prayed that she and her lover would become one archival pigment print (from a hand-made collage) on wood panel 47" x 33" (study: 21" x 14.75") 2022
Wife of Orpheus, who tried and failed to rescue her from Hades archival pigment print (from a hand-made collage) on wood panel 47" x 33" (study: 21" x 14.75") 2024
The Oracle of Delphi, high priestess of the Temple of Apollo, who delivered prophesies while in a trance archival pigment print on wood panel 47" x 33" (study: 21" x 14.75") 2025
The tragic heroine of Shakespeare's "Hamlet" archival pigment print (from a hand-made collage) on wood panel 44.5" x 29.25" 2014
Spartan Queen seduced by Zeus, who had taken the form of a swan archival pigment print 2025
A naiad who was pursued by Apollo against her will and was, for her safety, transformed into a laurel tree by her River God father. archival pigment print (from a hand-made collage) 2019
The Carites: Euphrosyne, Aglaia, and Thalia, in whom beauty was deified in ancient Greece collage on vintage album cover 12.5" x 12.5" 2018
Mathematician, physicist, engineer, astronomer, and inventor from the ancient city of Syracuse archival pigment print (from a hand-made collage) 2025
Wife of Hades and goddess of the harvest archival pigment print (from a hand-made collage) on wood panel 47" x 33" (study: 21" x 14.75") 2024
The son of Venus and Mars, Cupid, the god of love and desire collage on vintage album cover 12.5" x 12.5" 2018
Perhaps the most glamorous of all the girlfriends of the Time Lord Dr. Who archival pigment print (from a hand-made collage) on wood panel 50.75" x 33" 2015
Ancient Canaanite Mother Goddess who walked on water archival pigment print (from a hand-made collage) on wood panel 47" x 33" (study: 21" x 14.75") 2021
Akan goddess of fertility, love, procreation, peace, and truth archival pigment print (from a hand-made collage) on wood panel 47" x 33" (study: 21" x 14.75") 2022
Founder of a Kabul Sufi dance troupe who was eventually forced to leave Afghanistan (hand-made collage) on wood panel 12" x 12" 2023
The victimized young woman who escaped her family with the help of her Fairy Godmother archival pigment print (from a hand-made collage) on wood panel 39" x 47.5" 2015
Roman goddess of the dawn archival pigment print (from a hand-made collage) on wood panel 47" x 33" (study: 21" x 14.75") 2021
The first human woman created by Hephaestus on the instructions of Zeus, who released all the evils of humanity. archival pigment print (from a hand-made collage) on wood panel 27" x 27" 2021
