Statement | Deborah Lagrasse

I do not subscribe to any hierarchy of subjects; my work is abstract and full of meanings and symbolism. I love to work with metal for its strength, malleability and beauty. Looking past the obvious, close observation, and engagement with the subject is part of my artistic process. My goal is to inspire those who see my work to look more carefully at the world around them, to discover beauty in details.

My background in drawing, painting, sculpture and architecture has led me to develop both additive and reductive methods that combine drawing and mixed media elements. Pieces of metal may be scavenged, reworked and incorporated into a piece, leaving parts of the sculpture sewn into the drawing. I like to think of my sculptures as drawings in space.

Producing artwork, image making in particular, is a continuum. Ideas reoccur; images repeat, transform, take on new meaning, and develop in unexpected ways.

REsume | Deborah Lagrasse

EDUCATION

1981-1983 Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture

1974-1976 University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, Bachelor of Arts in Painting & Drawing

**Selected Teaching(*), Professional Experience, & Awards/Collections**

1993-2018 Design Instructor*, School of Architecture, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL

2016-2017 Individual Small Grant, US Embassy Latvia, Residency, Riga, Latvia

2014-2013 Moderator/Panelist, Architecture tour & Storytelling event, 7th International Conference on Contemporary Cast Iron Art, Pedvale, Latvia

2014-2013 Residency, SERDE “Starptautiskais” Iron Art Symposium, Aizpute, Latvia

2012 Iron Honors, Sloss National Cast Iron Art Conference, Birmingham, AL

2011 Panelist, Iron Maidens’ Conference, St Catherine’s University, St. Paul, MN Residency, Sanskriti, FAMU sabbatical, New Delhi, India

2009-2010 Moderator/Panelist, 6th International Cast Iron Art Conference, Kidwelly, Wales
2009-2010 Visiting artist/Lecture, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
2009-2010 Visiting artist/Lecture, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC

2004 ArtsLink Grant, Visiting Artist/Lecture, Academy of Art, Sarajevo, Bosnia

2001 Bronze casting workshop*, atelier of Felipe Lettersten, Lima, Peru
2001 Sculpture collection, “Temptress”, Gulf Coast Museum of Art, Largo, FL

2000 Commission, three large-scale sculptures, Premier Health, Tallahassee, FL

1995 Iron casting workshop*, Berllanderi Sculpture, Residency, Raglan, Wales

1994 Moderator/Demonstration, 2nd Int’l Cast Iron Art Conference, Birmingham, AL

1993 Visiting artist, Lecture, Workshop* Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, Scotland
1993 Residency, Berllanderi Sculpture Workshop, Raglan, Wales
1993 Residency, Scottish Sculpture Workshop, Lumsden, Scotland
1993 Visiting artist, Lecture, National College of Art and Design, Dublin, Ireland

1991-1992 Individual Artist Fellowship, State of Florida
1985-1988 Assistant Professor/Head of Sculpture*, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL

Selected Exhibitions

2017-2018 Solo Travelling, National Library of Latvia, JFF Reading Room, Riga, Latvia
2017-2018 Sculpture Outdoor, RBSE, National Juried, Rosemary Beach, FL

2016 Sculpture Outdoor, Julie Collins Smith Museum, National Juried, Auburn,AL
2016 Sculpture Outdoor, “Sculpture Walk”, National Juried, City of Jacksonville, FL
2016 “Art 3”, Anderson Gallery, Drake University, National Invitational, Des Moines, IA

2015 Solo, “A Transformative Vision”, Invitational Apalachicola Art Center, FL

2011-2014 Sculpture, “Savienošanᾱs/Coalescence”, International Juried, Talsi Museum, Latvia
2011-2014 Travelling, “Iron Maidens” International Invitational, Artists for Art, Scranton, PA

2013 “Crossing the Line” National Juried, Czurles-Nelson Gallery, Buffalo, NY
2013 “The Art of Architecture” Invitational, Le Moyne Art Gallery, Tallahassee, FL

2012 “Beth Appleton & Deborah La Grasse”, Invitational, Center for the Arts, Quincy, FL