Meet Daria (Dary) Dega

We had the good fortune of connecting with Daria (Dary) Dega and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Daria (Dary), how does your business help the community?
At the core of everything we do at DEGALLERY and the nonprofit DEGA International Art Association is a simple belief: art has the power to heal, connect, and empower people at every stage of life. Our work focuses on making high-quality art experiences accessible to children, adults, artists, and communities locally and internationally, while also supporting emotional well-being and cultural exchange.

At the community level, we provide free and low-cost art programs for groups who often have limited access to the arts, including patients at the Brazos Valley Rehabilitation Center, adopted children from low-income families, public library patrons, and community groups. These programs are not only about learning artistic skills—they are about reducing stress, building confidence, and creating moments of connection through creativity.

For children and families, our impact extends globally through the Happy DEGART International Kids Art Contest, which has engaged more than 1,000 children from over 50 countries across all continents. This project gives young artists a platform to share their voices, often for the first time, encourages cross-cultural understanding, and creates a sense of belonging through international artistic exchange.

For professional artists, the DEGART Big International Art Event creates opportunities for visibility, collaboration, education, and economic support through exhibitions, workshops, and community engagement.

Through DEGALLERY, we also serve as a cultural hub by hosting monthly exhibitions, concerts, workshops, and community events that bring people together across age, background, and profession. Our programs for adults—from wellness-focused art experiences to professional-level classes—support mental health, lifelong learning, and creative connection. Many of our donors and supporters are also our students, collectors, and community members, creating a sustainable ecosystem built on relationships rather than transactions.

Ultimately, our social impact comes from using art as a tool for well-being, education, and connection. Whether we are working with a child discovering their creative voice, a healthcare worker finding relief through art, or an artist building an international career, our goal is the same: to strengthen individuals and communities by making art meaningful, inclusive, and human.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My professional path is deeply connected to my personal journey. I emigrated and rebuilt my entire life from the beginning—new country, new language, new professional system, and new cultural expectations. Nothing about that process was easy. There were moments when everything felt uncertain, including my confidence in myself. What helped me move forward was a simple but powerful commitment: to keep learning, keep growing, and never give up.

Education became my anchor. I continued to study—not because it was required, but because it helped me trust myself again. My background spans medicine, neuroscience, art, and museum studies, and that interdisciplinary foundation shapes everything I do today. It allows me to approach art not only as aesthetics, but as a tool for healing, education, and community connection.

Through DEGALLERY and the nonprofit DEGA International Art Association, I’ve built a space where professional artists, children, families, and community members can all belong. I am especially proud of creating programs that serve people at very different stages of life—from international children’s art initiatives to major events for professional artists—while keeping the focus on human connection, trust, and well-being.

I am grateful that this work has been recognized, including being listed in Who’s Who in America and receiving a Community Impact Award through local leadership organizations. While awards are meaningful, what matters most to me is seeing people around feel supported through art.

One of my biggest challenges has been language and communication. Building a business, leading a nonprofit, and advocating for ideas in a second language requires resilience and humility. I learned to ask questions, to listen carefully, and to turn vulnerability into strength. Over time, those challenges became part of what sets me apart: I lead with empathy, adaptability, and lived experience.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that progress does not come from perfection—it comes from persistence. My personal motto is simple: never give up, keep moving forward, be strong, and believe that everything is possible. That belief is embedded in my brand, my leadership style, and the community I’ve built.

What I want the world to know about me is that my story—and my work—are about transformation. If I can rebuild my life, my voice, and my confidence through learning, art, and community, then others can too. And I am committed to creating spaces where that kind of growth is possible.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend were visiting for a week, I wouldn’t plan a rushed or commercial itinerary. I would want to show them a slower, more meaningful side of the area—one rooted in creativity, conversation, and cultural connection.

I would start by bringing them to DEGALLERY, not just to see international and local exhibitions, but to experience how art brings people together. If the timing were right, I would absolutely plan the visit around our First Saturday Art Fair with live music and Jazz on the Grass. It’s a moment where art, music, families, and community naturally mix, and you can feel how creativity supports joy and mental well-being.

Beyond that, I would spend the week visiting and supporting local museums and galleries. I truly believe these spaces are essential—not only for culture, but for our emotional and mental health. Museums and galleries invite us to slow down, reflect, and connect with ideas larger than ourselves. They inspire curiosity, empathy, and conversation in ways few other places can.

Rather than focusing on constant activity, I’d plan time to walk, talk, and sit with art—allowing inspiration to unfold naturally. Some days would be about exhibitions and artist talks, others about quiet reflection, music, or simply being surrounded by creative energy.

For me, the best experiences are not about how much you do, but how deeply you experience a place. I would want my friend to leave feeling inspired, calmer, and more connected—to art, to people, and to themselves. Supporting cultural spaces is one of the most meaningful ways to do that, and it’s something I believe we all need more of in our lives.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
If I look at my journey honestly, I would say that none of it would have been possible without the people who believed in me long before I believed in myself.

First, I want to thank my parents. They gave me a strong education, discipline, and values — but even more importantly, they gave me the courage to build my own path. Leaving your home country and moving far away from family is not easy, and they supported that decision with love and trust. That foundation shaped everything.

I am deeply grateful to my husband and my children. Running a gallery, leading a nonprofit, organizing international events — it means being a very busy mom. Their patience, love, and constant encouragement give me the strength to continue, especially during difficult moments.

I also want to recognize my teachers and professors from different stages of my education. They helped me see connections between medicine, neuroscience, art, and leadership. Each of them contributed to the interdisciplinary approach that defines my work today.

And finally — and very sincerely — I want to thank my students, collectors, and friends of DEGALLERY. During challenging periods in business, they stood by me. They trusted me, supported our programs, brought their families, encouraged others, and believed in the vision. They did not just attend classes or events — they became a community. Their trust and loyalty helped me survive and grow.

If I have built something meaningful, it is because so many people contributed to it with love, mentorship, encouragement, and faith.

Website: https://www.degallery.us

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/degallery.us/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daria-dary-dega-734478341

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/degallery.us

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/degallery-bryan

Other: https://www.artdega.org