Signing Savvy, Your Sign Language Resource

Chuck Baird was one of the founders of De’VIA, an art movement formed by Deaf artists to express their Deaf experience through art. The group of artists coined the term and wrote a manifesto for De’VIA in 1989 at the first International Deaf culture festival at Gallaudet University, called Deaf Way.

Considered the "Father of De'VIA," Chuck paved the way for other De'VIA artists and created many famous De’VIA artworks over the years. He was the official curator of the Deaf Way II art exhibitions, which were showcased at Gallaudet and in the Washington D.C. area in 2002. Chuck once said he was "married to his paint brushes" and he was dedicated not only to his craft, but also to sharing his talent and knowledge with others through teaching art to deaf children throughout the country.

Chuck Baird's Famous Animal Paintings

In terms of De’VIA art that he created, Baird is probably most well known for his paintings of animals that show the iconicity of ASL, specifically with animal signs. See the examples of each of his paintings below with the sign next to it. The beauty of his art is more than the alluring imagery, extending to the meaning embedded within and how it celebrates American Sign Language.

Crocodile Dundee (1992) by Chuck Baird:

Whale by Chuck Baird:

Tyger Tyger (1992) by Chuck Baird:

Rhino (1992) by Chuck Baird:

Njamala (1992) by Chuck Baird:

Fingershell (1992) by Chuck Baird:

Eagle by Chuck Baird:

Double Nine Lives (1992) by Chuck Baird:

These art works represent the theme of Affirmation De’VIA, highlighting the positive perspective of empowerment within Deaf culture.

Other Baird Works of Affirmation De'VIA:

Some other great examples of Affirmation De'VIA pieces from Baird that do not focus on animals include the following:

America (2001) by Chuck Baird:

Art, No. 2 (1992) by Chuck Baird:

Colors (1993) by Chuck Baird:

Sunset (2002) by Chuck Baird:

Resistance De'VIA by Baird

Baird is well known for his "Affirmation De'VIA" artwork, however, the opposing theme of the De’VIA art movement is represented by "Resistance De’VIA" art pieces that showcase how Deaf people have been marginalized. Baird created resistance art work as well.

His “Mechanical Ear” painting shows machine-like components and boxes in the ear to visualize the over-emphasis on what Deaf people can not do and the cost imposed by audists' wanting to “fix” deaf people. Interestingly, Baird painted this piece before the spread of the cochlear implant device.

Mechanical Ear (1973) by Chuck Baird

Whether painting a resistance piece or an affirmation piece, Chuck Baird was an exemplary artist whose ability to capture the beauty of not only the world, but also Deaf culture and American Sign Language left us all in awe!

More on Chuck Baird

Books About Chuck Baird

You can find these books on Amazon:

• Chuck Baird: Deaf Artist Series (2022) by James W. Van Manen
• Chuck Baird 35 Plates (1993) by Chuck Baird
• Deaf Artists in America: Colonial to Contemporary (2003) by Deborah M. Sonnenstrahl