Dara Theodora is a Portland, Oregon-based painter who works primarily in hand-mixed egg tempera and oil.
Drawing on mythology, folklore, literature, and personal symbolism, she paints uncanny figures and creatures in dreamlike, often contradictory worlds. Dara’s paintings reflect the anxieties and absurdities of modern life by transforming them into something symbolic and often strange.
Through sancai-inspired dripping and pareidolia, she lets colors and textures run together to create unexpected forms, allowing images to emerge intuitively.
She is drawn to the ways reality slips into the surreal, and how imagined worlds can offer both a reflection of our own world and an escape from it.
Current + Upcoming Exhibitions
- Tarot | Splendorporium, Portland, Oregon | October 2 to 29, 2026
- Skeletons out of the Closet | Alberta Street Gallery, Portland, Oregon | September 24 to October 29, 2026
- B/W: A Black & White Group Show | Ford Gallery PDX, Portland, Oregon | October 2 to Nov 22, 2026
- Season of Shadows | Industrial Street Studios: Hood River, Oregon | October 22 to Nov, 2026
Upcoming Publications
- IONTAS Magazine – Folklore
- Pile Press – Edition 13
- Rawhead & Bloody Bones: Halloween 2026
Currently based in Portland, Oregon. Originally from San Antonio/Austin, Texas. Lived in and also inspired by the UK, Ireland, and Vermont.
MA in English Literature and Culture – University of Birmingham, UK
Double Major BA in English and History – Texas State University
When I’m not painting or doing your general surviving-in-the-modern-world things, I’m petting a cat, writing, reading, playing a new indie video game, travelling, attempting to go outside more, or listening to new music (open to your recommendations!).
Have a project idea, a commission, or just want to say hi? Reach me at daratheodora.tp@gmail.com or follow me on Instagram or Pixelfed.