"Art is an expression of love for family."
Walter and LaVerne Strickland's first child, Dianne Marie, was born in 1948 in the Chicago suburb of Evanston. Even as a child, she was fascinated with cut paper creating her own paper dolls. Dianne attended Evanston Township High School and went on to graduate from Northwestern University in 1970.
Dianne met Frank J. Bradley, Jr. when they were both nine years old when he came to visit relatives in Evanston. Shortly after her graduation, Dianne and Frank pledged vows that intertwined their lives for the next 28 years. The school teacher and USAF officer built a family together until his untimely death in 1998.
Diane returned to her childhood fascination with paper dolls in 2004. Inspired by the birth of her first grandson, she developed her unique collage style in a hand-made storybook dedicated to the newborn boy.
Shortly after, she joined the Columbia City Gallery in Rainier City, Seattle. Dianne created dozens of works over the following 16 years creating pieces of art appreciated throughout the Puget Sound.
Dianne relocated to her home town of Chicago after 34 years in Tacoma. Currently, the artist is steadily recovering from a life threatening stroke. It is unknown when or if she will produce more work.