Deborah Liljegren

Artist's Statement For a long time, I referred to myself as a photographer rather than as an artist. I did this because the majority of my work was done in the photographic medium and my camera had been, in many ways, my champion. I grew up with cameras, films, and other photography accouterments being as normal to me as baseballs or dolls were to other kids. I learned to take what was there, what was real — the light, the dark, the mood, the balance, the air — and translate it through the lens. Even with this devout love of photography, I had always worked in other media. Yet it felt false to me to present this other art because I was subscribing to an unwritten rule that dictated that I could only be a photographer, only be a painter, or only some other type of artist. As soon as I let go of this rule, I started to delve into what makes me, me. What has resulted from this allowance are new artworks that stroll varied avenues of creativity while employing equally different media.   Exhibitions 2020 Southern Vermont Art Center, Manchester, Vermont | Solo Show 2018 St. Barth Photo Festival, St. Barth, French West Indies | Grand Prix Winner 2016 Aqua Art Miami, Miami, Florida 2016 Morris Jumel Mansion, New York City, New York | Open House Event 2016 UForge Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts “Me, Myself & I” | Solo Show 2016 Gateway Art Center, New York City 2015 Morris Jumel Mansion, New York City, New York | 250th Anniversary Art Event 2015 Select Art Fair, New York City, New York 2014 Eostre Art, New York City, New York | Various shows 2013 Sragow Gallery, New York City, New York 2013 Eostre Art, New York City, New York 2012 IFPDA Print Fair, New York City, New York 2012 Fall Affordable Art Fair, New York City, New York 2011 Fall Affordable Art Fair, New York City, New York 2010 New Century Artist, New York City, New York | Multiple Group Shows 2010 380 Gallery, New York City, New York | Two-Artist Show 2009 New Century Artists, New York City, New York | Multiple Group Shows 2008 The Distillery, Boston, Massachusetts | Open Studios 2007 The Distillery, Boston, Massachusetts | Selected Artist for Open Studios