He spent most of his career teaching at Southern Illinois University and has work on display in the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design in New York as well as other collections.
He received his BA from California State University, Northridge and his MFA from the Cranbrook Academy of Art in 1973 studying with Richard DeVore.
In 2008, he received the NCECA Excellence in Teaching Award for his outstanding contributions to education in the field of ceramics.
He continues producing his work at White Roof Studio in Carbondale, Illinois.
[4][5] Deller's ceramic works are represented in the following collections: Some of his students include: Yih-Wen Kuo (1981), Elaine Olafson Henry (1995), Colby Parsons (1998), Veronica L. Watkins (2000), Lou Pierozzi (2001) Brenda Quinn (2003), Greg Cochenet (2004), Bethany Benson (2007), KyoungHwa Oh (2008), Amy Chase (2010), Nick Toebaas (2011), Noel Bailey (2012), and CJ Niehaus (2013)