Valerie Deas was born in the Bronx, raised in Harlem, and has resided in the Bronk for more than three decades. Valerie has professionally taught art for more than twenty-five years with the NYC Board of Education and is proud to share that under her encouragement and artist skill, many of her students have been winners of the Ezra Jack Keats Bookmaking Contest and Alliance for Young Artist & Writers and have exhibited at the Tweed Courthouse and Moma PS1. Valerie has a BS and a BA from City College of New York and an MS from Bank Street College of Education. Valerie has taken painting and drawing classes at the Art Students League of New York as well as drawing classes at the School of Visual Arts and textile classes at The City Quilter.

Valerie has participated in more than 25 group shows two international shows one in Brazil (Book Art) The other in Costa Rica-Beyond Category-Visions of Jazz, International Textile Biennial, San Jose, Costa Rica curated by Carolyn Mazoolmi. She has a solo exhibition called Thread and Paints in Harlem NY, at Gallery M. Valerie's work was also exhibited at Lincoln Center's Cork Gallery, Rush Gallery, Kenter Royal Gallery, Blue Door Art Gallery, Riverdale Art Association. Valerie's quilts have been in touring with African American Fiber Art Exhibition throughout the country.

Valerie was a member of SAQUA (Art Quilt Association), Riverdale Art Association, Blue Door Art Center, Bx 200 Visual Artist Directory, and HGQC (Harlem Girls Quilting Circle).