Deborah Sipple’s love of art began at a very early age. One of her earliest memories, at 5 years old, is of anxiously awaiting the arrival of a variety of rainbow colored pens in the shape of a feather, ordered from the back of a cereal box. “I was completely enamored by the all the different shades of color. I couldn’t wait to try them.”
Deborah grew up in rural South Jersey, and the woods surrounding her home were her playground, her sanctuary. The beauty, design, and color of nature became, and still is, one of her main sources of inspiration.
In high school, Deborah majored in art and pottery. In the mid 80’s, Deborah studied drawing and painting at Camden County College. She then attended the renowned Samuel S. Fleischer Art Memorial of Philadelphia, where she fell in love with stone sculpture, and had the memorable experience and honor of studying with Frank Gasparro, a sculptor, and most notably the Chief Engraver of the United States Mint from 1965 to 1981. “Frank was a great influence in my life. He was very supportive and always encouraged me to continue on with sculpture.” From the beginning, Deborah knew that working in stone was her passion and she began creating strong abstract sculptures from Black Soap Stone and Alabaster.
In 2000 Deborah moved to New Mexico, where she began having challenges with stone dust and developed various environmental/chemical sensitivities, and had to give up sculpture and other mediums.
A few years later, Deborah’s close friend and mentor, artist Rhett Lynch bought her the largest Prisma Color Pencil set as a birthday present, which opened up a new world. “Rhett has been an amazing influence and inspiration for me creatively. I truly believe, I would not be the artist I am today, if not for his encouragement.” Deborah began working with colored pencils, water color, and other mixed media creating very sculptural, three-dimensional shapes. “My work is intuitive. Movement, light, color, and shape inspire me. I really cannot explain why I am moved to draw, what I draw. It feels compelling, and there is something in the images that deeply satisfies me. After the creative process is over, I turn the interpretation over to the observer. Whatever they find in it, whatever they see, becomes their relationship to the piece. When that connection is found in my work, I am grateful.”
Deborah is currently represented by Gallery Hozho in Albuquerque, NM. and has previously shown her work at True West Gallery of Santa Fe, ART Santa Fe, and Gallery Chaco in Albuquerque, NM.
CV
Deborah Sipple
Born in Philadelphia, Pa 1952
Education
· 1988 Fleischer Art Memorial – Stone Sculpture Philadelphia, Pa.
· 1985 Camden County College, Blackwood, NJ – Fine Arts
Exhibitions
2021
· “9 Loves” Valentine Show – Gallery Hozho, Albuquerque, NM
· Terran Last Gun & Deborah Sipple – Gallery Hozho, Albuquerque, NM
2020
· Opening Reception for Gallery Artists – Gallery Hozho, Albuquerque, NM
· “Good Things in Small Packages” – Gallery Hozho, Albuquerque, NM
2017
· Opening Reception for Gallery Artists – Gallery Chaco, Albuquerque, NM
2016
· Group Show – True West of Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM
· The Pop Up Collective – Imperial Building, Albuquerque, NM
· Art Santa Fe – Santa Fe Convention Center, Santa Fe, NM
1988 - 1992
· Annual Group Show – Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, Pa.
1987
· Group Show – Camden County College, Blackwood, NJ
Collections
Rhett Lynch
· Kirstin Rendina
· Philip Toppo
· Felicia Bartley
· Michael Sigler