Deborah Sibony

Artist Statement:

My work and aesthetics derive in large part from my heritage — North African — and my formative cultural experience growing up in Italy.

I begin my prints by traveling into history, memory and imagination. I am interested in boundaries and transitions, both physical and cultural. What happens when you get near? What crosses over and connects and what is repeated. The transitions, and overlapping layers are reflections that give form to the contemporary world and shape the experiences of each viewer. 

I use a variety of print making methods to connect and assimilate a progression of ideas. I use visceral properties of paint, and the power of color, to convey the drama of emotions. The visual language is primordial, melodic, and at times baroque and industrial. I see these forms as constructions creating a diverse reality coexisting in one space.  With each run through the press, as layers change and become more complex, history and memory become part of the conversation. 

For many years monotypes have been the medium of my choice. I enjoy the the process it entails and the transformation that happens to the art with the press, as well as the wide variety of techniques that can be used.

For the past six years, I worked at Aurobora Press in San Francisco as a Master Printer teaching workshops and working with artists in residence. In that capacity I collaborated with many artists from around the country, many of whom are new to printmaking. The residencies provide an avenue for exploring many uses of the press. I also teach workshops and work with artists in my studio in Berkeley. 

Currently, I have a two person show in the CBRE Lobby in Oakland curated by BayVan. I also have a solo show, "Reconstructed Memories", at the San Francisco Commonwealth Club.  My prints hang permanently in various San Francisco and Bay area collections.

Aside from print making, I work professionally as a graphic designer. I worked for many years at Fantasy Records in Berkeley designing CD packages. I now work independently for a variety of clients in the music, film, and publishing field.