David Orr
Artist Bio
Based in Galena, Illinois, and Hot Springs, Arkansas, David Orr is an author and artist who brings a structural perspective to his work, honed by careers in architectural design and corporate creative direction, to his work. Orr now explores histories—both personal and systemic—through a unique lens of comedic structure, absurdity, and lyricism. He dedicates his practice to creating novels and art books that merge photography, graphics, and poetry.
This ‘third act’ in his creative life is built on a rigorous foundation of lifelong learning. A graduate of the Low-Residency MFA program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), Orr also holds two other Master’s degrees, one in Architecture, the other in Media and Popular Culture. His path began with Writing Seminars at Johns Hopkins and includes formal study in comedic theory at the Second City and playwriting at Chicago Dramatists.
Raised in a small college town in the U.S. South, Orr’s voice was shaped by a culture of raconteurs steeped in the traditions of the tall tale and magical realism. This heritage informs his distinct approach, blending influences from Jorge Luis Borges to stand-up comedy—to dissect complex subjects with wit and humanity.