poet with a paintbrush

Daniel Patrick Helmstetter is a self-taught artist who works with words.  

For the sake of brevity, he is a poet with a paintbrush.

Poetry As Environment

Daniel's installation work utilizes his hand-painted typography to publish his poetry within 3-dimensional spaces.

This part of his practice has been studied by academics and featured in international publications, including :
 
'Lettering Large' by Steven Heller and Mirko Illic on Monacelli Press
'Go, Stop, Slow, Eat : How Typography Influences Behavior' by Steven Heller and Mirko Illic on Rockport Publishers
'Typography Spaces' by Basheer Graphics of Singapore
"TYPE NARRATIVES' by Steven Heller and Gail Anderson, forthcoming on Thames & Hudson

Poetry as Object

Helmstetter's poetry also takes the form of smaller, more intimate, fine art.

His poems, utilizing the same techniques of hand painted letterforms, have been exhibited by galleries in
Newark, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland, Mexico, and Miami.
 

Poetry in Public

Helmstetter's practice also includes an element of publishing poetry in public.

His poems have been installed in transit hubs, at music festivals, and on the avenues of cities in the US and abroad.

Poetry as Therapy

Daniel's work is perhaps most acutely understood when seen through the lens of art therapy.

His work has origins in the belief that reflection leads to understanding, that understanding leads to communion, and that communion allows for healing. 

His work, at its foundation, is an affirmation of the anti-patriarchal notion that men, too, must weep.