Artist in Residence

He had me at Jimi. Meeting with our friends at ELEMENT Home in Cherry Creek North for an entirely different reason, a chance gaze at the wall-adorning, eye-catching art featuring Jimi Hendrix immediately bumped a new, much more important question to owner Robert Zimmerman to the top of the queue in my meeting, “Who is this artist?” Meet Jarred De Palo, aka Mr. Depalakua. This is what we love about artists. They’re everywhere, but only a few get to be our Artist in Residence.

Your work is a blend of urban street art mixed with fine art collage work and detailed with hand cut paper to create exclusive compositions. Your mantra is to bring the streets into a gallery setting. What or who inspired this style for you?  My inspiration stems from the time I spent documenting street art and graffiti in New York City. Between 1999 and 2005, I walked the streets of all five boroughs with my brother Daniel, capturing images of the vibrant krylon and rustoleum covered walls that adorned the city. From the Boogie Down Bronx to the Graffiti Hall of Fame at 106 & Park, Lower East Side Manhattan, the iconic 5Pointz building in Queens (RIP), the legendary “Never Die” Bed-Stuy in Brooklyn, and all the way out to Shaolin Island. Shout out to the Wu-Tang Clan! During those six years, I encountered countless styles, techniques, and artists, all of which have profoundly influenced my creativity.

When I think of the streets and graffiti, I don’t think of Maui. I know growing up in Hawaii shaped you with its topography and beauty, but what else did it instill in you? The Aloha spirit! It carries various meanings, each deeply rooted in Hawaiian values. To me, it embodies a profound respect for the ʻāina (land) and the Hawaiian culture. It signifies more than just a greeting; it reflects a way of life. One built on kindness, love, and a deep sense of community. The Aloha spirit encourages us to live with empathy and understanding.

I’ve seen work by you include Jimi Hendrix, Muhammad Ali, Marilyn Monroe, Andy Warhol, Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan. What interests you and intrigues you about celebrating musical and celebrity icons? Whether in front of a camera, behind a microphone, or in the ring, having an unmeasurable passion for what you love is, in my eyes, the true mark of someone living life to the fullest, not just going through the motions. Life is not a dress rehearsal! The impact these icons have made in their respective industries and the countless lives they’ve touched is nothing short of remarkable. I deeply admire the hard work, sacrifice, and dedication required to master one’s craft. This relentless pursuit of excellence is something I find truly intriguing and inspiring.

Do you listen to music while you work? Absolutely. I don’t think I could create without listening to music! People always ask if I am listening to the artist of the piece that I am creating. Truth be told, 99 percent of the time I am listening to local reggae jams from back home. You can take the boy out of the islands, but you can’t take the island out of the boy.

What’s something about the art industry that most people don’t know? This is a great question! Something I don’t think people always consider is when you buy from an artist, you’re not just purchasing an object; you’re investing in their time, passion, and a piece of their soul, supporting their creative journey and livelihood. Each piece of art represents countless hours of practice, experimentation, and dedication, all of which are reflected in their final work.

You work with ELEMENT Home in Cherry Creek. Talk about that partnership. Having a partnership with ELEMENT Home has been an extraordinary relationship. As an artist, it is very important who you choose to represent you. They have taken the time to invest in knowing who I am and what my work represents. The enthusiasm that Robert Zimmerman, his rock star sales team, and my manager have about me and my work make me feel right at home!

What’s your impression of the art scene in Cherry Creek and Denver as a whole? I moved to Denver in June of 2005. Just a year later, I hosted an art show in Cherry Creek showcasing over 100 local artists in a vacant restaurant space. Don’t ask me how I pulled that off, as I was barely tapping into the art scene. That night I remember quite a few people expressing that they had never been to or seen a show like this in Denver. Fast forward to 2025 and the Denver art scene has exploded. The city is covered in amazing murals, art galleries have popped up in every neighborhood, we have multiple well established art fairs and have a ton of artists on a national if not international level. I am quite impressed with the growth I’ve seen in the last 20 years and will enjoy continuing to watch it grow.

Do you have a particularly unforgettable moment as an artist? I had never been a resident artist at an established gallery and it was always a dream of mine. I used to live near Tennyson Street in Denver and would walk by this beautiful gallery all the time and just admire the art and how well curated the space was. One day I built up the courage to stop in and ask if they were looking for any new artists. I talked to the gallery owner, showed her a few pictures of my work on my phone and, if I remember correctly, unknown to me, I believe she was following me on social media or had at least seen my work at some point. A few weeks later that dream became a reality when the owner of Westward Gallery, Michelle Courier, brought me on as a resident artist. This was a monumental moment in my career. Over time, she not only represented me, but she also became a mentor and provided me with a wealth of knowledge about the art industry and until today is a dear friend.

Tell me something most people don’t know about you. Fun fact…I worked for Chris Noth for three years in New York City at the bar/restaurant he owned. Let’s just say the stories are unbelievable and I had the time of my life!

What are you working on now? I am just finishing up a body of work that will be on display at The Clayton Hotel & Members Club in Cherry Creek. It features such icons as Anthony Bourdain, Bruce Lee, Cindy Crawford, along with a few others. I am also creating new pieces for ELEMENT Home and the new arrivals will include Elton John, Albert Einstein, a piece from my new limited “Camera” series I am working on, and a touch of nature with a bison piece. These will all be on display this season so please come by and say hello!

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