For Orlando-based interdisciplinary artist Damon DeWitt, the desire to create never disappeared—but there was a moment when it felt out of reach. Burnout crept in. Life responsibilities piled up. And the question surfaced quietly but persistently: Is art still possible?
“I was just in that moment where I felt like maybe art’s not for me,” DeWitt reflects. “I entered a phase of burnout, but the dream had never left.” As a parent balancing family, work, and the realities of everyday life, time for art became scarce—and without a proper space to create, the pressure mounted. “I got to this point where I said, I don’t think I can do this anymore.”
Yet even in that moment of uncertainty, the impulse to respond to the world through art remained. DeWitt’s work has always been shaped by the times we’re living in—by social events, cultural shifts, and shared histories. Art, for him, is not passive. It’s commentary. It’s reaction. It’s reflection.
When an opportunity through United Arts emerged, it required a leap of faith. With support that included access to studio space, DeWitt made a difficult decision alongside his family—to step away from a secure job and commit fully to his practice. “With this opportunity, I decided to go after the art full time,” he says.
Having a visible studio space transformed more than DeWitt’s workflow—it changed his relationship with the community. Passersby stop at the windows, tap the glass, offer a thumbs up, or linger to watch the work take shape. “That’s fuel to the fire,” he says. “Getting those positive reactions and having people be aware of what we’re doing in here—it matters.”
That momentum led directly to “DREAM TEAM,” DeWitt’s ambitious portrait series honoring the legendary 1992 U.S. Olympic basketball team. The work features twelve life-sized, full-body portraits, each painted at the player’s true height—an intentional choice that emphasizes physical presence, dominance, and cultural impact.
The series examines more than athletic excellence. It captures a turning point when basketball transcended borders and became a global language. For DeWitt, it also reconnects to something deeply personal. “When I was a kid, those players felt like gods,” he recalls. “That childhood awe still lives inside the work.”
DeWitt is candid about what made the project possible. “I wouldn’t be working on my Dream Team series if it wasn’t for United Arts,” he says. Access to space, visibility, and resources created opportunities that simply wouldn’t exist behind closed doors.
Today, DeWitt stands in a moment of possibility—building momentum not only for himself, but for his family and his future as an artist. “I’m going to capitalize on the moment that I have here in downtown Orlando,” he says, “and try to build as an artist.”
His story is a testament to what happens when artists are given more than encouragement—they’re given room to take risks, to be seen, and to believe again.
Make stories like Damon’s possible.
Support from the community helps United Arts uplift artists, provide access to creative spaces, and ensure bold work like DREAM TEAM can come to life. Every investment helps make art possible.
