Born in 1968 and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Darryl grew up as a Jewish woman confronting the stark realities of racism, antisemitism, and class and gender inequality. These early experiences did not diminish her spirit; instead, they ignited a fierce and lasting commitment to art as both expression and resistance.

Encouraged by an inspiring high school art teacher who submitted her work to the Scholastic Art Competition, Darryl earned a full scholarship to the Pre-College Program at the Rhode Island School of Design—an opportunity that set the course for her life. She went on to receive her BFA in Painting from RISD, where her artistic voice deepened and expanded.

During her years at RISD, Darryl was drawn to the raw creative energy of New York City’s Lower East Side. She immersed herself in the downtown art world, the punk scene, and the underground film movement that defined the era. She completed internships at Pace Gallery and Gracie Mansion Gallery, gaining invaluable experience and mentorship. She was fortunate to work with and learn from figures such as Gracie Mansion, Sur Rodney Sur, and Al Hansen.

Her exposure to artists including Leon Golub, Nancy Spero, Donald Baechler, John Chamberlain, Clayton Patterson, James Romberger, and Marguerite Van Cook profoundly influenced her evolving practice.

Darryl became actively involved in the Cinema of Transgression movement and appeared in three films by Nick Zedd: Ecstasy in Entropy, Why Do You Exist, and War Is Menstrual Envy. She later met her husband, filmmaker scot-free, while he was working at Anthology Film Archives. There, she immersed herself in experimental cinema, inspired by artists such as Jonas Mekas and MM Serra. She acted in and collaborated on three of scot-free’s short films: Strange Love, Fabulous Disaster, Gentrifucked and is featured in his upcoming feature film Brooklyn Psycho.

In addition to maintaining her own studio practice, Darryl has worked as a studio assistant to Donald Baechler, at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and as an art teacher at The Children’s Workshop Grammar School on East Twelfth Street. Throughout decades of varied work experiences—both within and outside the art world—she has remained steadfast in her commitment to painting and exhibiting her work while raising two children.

In 2024, she was awarded a residency with the Emily Harvey Foundation in Venice, Italy. Working in Venice further expanded her dialogue with art history, architecture, and international contemporary practice, marking an important recent chapter in her evolving career.