DEBORAH PERLMAN

ARTIST BIO

South Florida artist Deborah Perlman is a graduate of Boston University (BFA, sculpture) and Cranbrook Academy of Art (MFA, sculpture). After graduate school, Perlman ventured into communications, enriching her creativity through travel and special assignments. Since dedicating herself to art full time, she has been featured in several art publications and her work has appeared in exhibitions nationwide including three solo exhibitions from 2023 – 2024. Perlman’s work is held in private collections, and she is a member of several professional artist organizations.

Perlman finds inspiration from the form, structure and styles of African sculpture; the Constructivism, Geometric Abstraction, and Cubism art movements; the work of Louise Nevelson; the ‘illogical perspective’ of Giorgio de Chirico and M.C. Escher; Joseph Cornell’s shadow boxes; and Frank Stella’s metal reliefs, among many others. Her concerns for the environment, reactions to global conflicts, and personal life experiences contribute to the subject matter she addresses.

ARTIST STATEMENT

I create 3-dimensional collage by transforming flat images into raised architectural forms and spaces which add depth, texture and shadows. Using paper in rich tones, I cut, score, and fold to create these forms, then combine them with photographs, wood, fabric, metal and other materials.
My work land between the real and the imagined. Each piece invites you to travel through doorways, walkways, and passages, leading you on a journey to spaces filled with mystery, questions, and the unknown.

These pieces are visual metaphors for issues that impact me, from environmental concerns and global conflicts to the quest for inner peace. Walk in and ask yourself: What is it? Where is it? What do I see and feel? And ultimately, do I find myself in it, or not?
Through these questions, I aim to foster deeper connections and understanding, encouraging introspection and recognition of our shared experiences.