Debra Disman enjoyed a successful career as a decorative painter in San Francisco before relocating to Los Angeles.
Rather than viewing the relocation as an impediment, Debra recognized opportunities in the move. Above all, it was a chance to reignite her studio practice.
In this episode of The Art Biz, Debra shares her journey, revealing how she has navigated this transition with resilience.
Throughout our conversation, several key themes emerge:
- Debra’s fierce curiosity that drives her to explore and understand her surroundings.
- Her drive to pursue new opportunities, no matter the obstacles.
- The critical role of networking and the connections she’s made along the way.
- The power of making consistent progress, even through small, daily actions.
- The importance of staying adaptable in an ever-changing world.
Listen
Mentioned
18th Street Arts Center in L.A.
Art and Cake online magazine for the L.A. art scene
A Dual Path as an Artist and Art Reviewer with Philip Hartigan
Debra Disman Quotes
“It isn’t just being able to create. It is being able to cope with that world to engage with that world to embrace that world.”
“I thought it was a reinvention, but I’m finding now that it was simply opening up into a new phase and bringing everything with me into that because it’s a very high-powered environment.”
“All people want the same thing. All people are concerned about being treated well, being treated with respect, being seen, and not being taken advantage of in any way.”
“You cannot underestimate the power of showing up for something on a daily basis in the studio, reaching out and, and just doing it step by step … break it down into manageable chunks.”
“You need to have that enthusiasm for yourself, whether it’s quiet and meditative and in the flow of things in the studio or whether it’s interacting with other people. You have to have that joy because otherwise, why, why are we doing this?”
Related Episodes
These episodes are focused on networking.
About My Guest
Debra Disman is a Los Angeles-based artist known for her work inspired by the book—in her studio practice and in the public sphere of community engagement. As a maker, teaching artist, researcher and writer, she creates work and projects that investigate states of being and connectiveness through intensive engagement with materials, while attempting to fully explore and exploit their haptic properties.
She has served as an artist-in-residence for the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs since 2017, was a Santa Monica Artist Fellow in 2021-22, and has been a local artist-in-residence at 18th Street Arts Center since 2018.
Follow Debra on Instagram: @artifactorystudio
