Debra Disman

Artist

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TEXTILE/FIBER

“We Write the Book”: Butterfly Bookmaking at the Northridge Branch Library!

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I am thrilled to serve again as a 2026-27 “NEAR” (Neighborhood Engagement Artist Residency) Artist in Residence at the Northridge Branch Library!
Third time is a charm! A butterfly charm!

For our kick-off workshop (or program in library parlance!) we celebrated SUMMER by creating a BUTTERFLY BOOK based on the folded fan structure.

 

There were participants from ages 6-60+ including families, couples, grandparents, siblings and friends.
It was a joy to behold.
And a beautiful butterfly time was had by all!

 
JOIN US!

“TREE II: Breath of Humanity” presented by Verum Ultimum Gallery!

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I am delighted to be participating in “TREES II: Breath of Humanity”
presented by Verum Ultimum Gallery.
Please see a variety of views of this show HERE
Please read the collective artist blog post HERE!

“Trees are essential to all life and are the very essence of expansion (intrinsic to every breath). They stand as a symbol for growth, connection, spirit, air, family, and more….”
—Jennifer Gillia Cutshall, Owner, Curator, Artist, Magician, Tree-Lover

“Trees are poems that the earth writes upon the sky.” – Kahlil Gibran

I am showing my triptych: 
La Forêt, 2024, 70 x 60 x 1.5″ (dimensions variable), canvas, acrylic paint, hemp/jute/cotton cord

See the SHOW Here!
See my WORK Here!
See the CATALOGUE Here!

“KNOT SORRY” at Not Shockboxx!

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I am thrilled to participate in “Knot Sorry” at Not Shockboxx Gallery!
The “Knot Sorry” exhibition showcases bold fiber art in Los Angeles.
I will be showing for the first time a new work entitled: “Target Practice” which can be presented in multiple ways.

There’s something subversive about softness.
Knot Sorry pulls fiber art out of the polite, domestic corner and into the spotlight where it belongs — bold, labor-intensive, intimate, and impossible to ignore. This exhibition celebrates work made by hand, by time, by tension. Quilts that carry stories. Garments that feel like armor or confession. Threads that bind, unravel, and reassemble meaning.
We’re interested in fiber as both material and message. The slow process. The repetitive act. The history stitched into every surface. And the ways artists are pushing these traditions into something sharper, stranger, more personal.
Bring us the pieces that blur the line between craft and fine art. The ones that feel obsessive. Tender. Unapologetic. Work that holds weight — physically or emotionally — whether it’s stitched, knotted, woven, sewn, or layered into mixed media.
This is about care and control. About labor you can see. About softness that doesn’t ask permission.
No apologies. No minimizing.
Knot Sorry.
@notshockboxx

“FIBER ITERATION” at Textile Art Gallery NYC!

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 I am thrilled to  participate in:
Fiber Iterations
presented at Textile Art Gallery New York!

August 3-28, 2026

Opening Reception August 6, 4-6 pm

Fiber Iterations – Textile Art Gallery NYC  invited artists working in fiber and textile-based practices to submit work celebrating the versatility, innovation, and expressive potential of these mediums. The “Fiber Iterations” show was open to artists exploring traditional and contemporary approaches, including but not limited to weaving, embroidery, quilting, felting, tapestry, soft sculpture, mixed media, and experimental textile processes.

Textile Art Gallery New York is particularly interested in work that pushes the boundaries of fiber art, engages with cultural narratives, or examines materiality, sustainability, identity, and storytelling through textile forms.

Selected works are  featured in this curated exhibition aimed at highlighting the depth and diversity of fiber and textile art today. Artists will have the opportunity to share their work with a broader audience in the Chelsea Arts District and participate in programming related to the exhibition.

Juror: Dutch native Petra Fallaux is a writer, curator and artist based in Pittsburgh, PA

Petra Fallaux remarked that the quality of the submissions was “second to none.” The creativity, craftsmanship, and innovation demonstrated by artists from around the world made this an exceptional pool of work. We extend our sincere thanks to every artist who submitted their work and congratulate those selected for this outstanding exhibition.

295 artists submitted works, making the selection process both exciting and incredibly challenging for our juror. After careful review, 53 artists were selected for the exhibition. I am pleased to be showing:
The Body Politic: Like White on White, 2024, 9 x 16 x 7″, book board, paint, canvas, hemp/assorted cord, trim



“We Write the Book” Returns to the Northridge Library!

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I am thrilled to return to the Northridge Branch Library for a third season of bookmaking supported by the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs!
JOIN US!!!!!

We Write the Book: Craft Program for All Ages

Monthly on the fourth Saturday, 11am – 12:30pm
Saturday July 25, 2026 – Saturday, Jun 26 2027

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
KICK-OFF: Saturday July 25, 2026

About the Program:
Artist-in-Residence Debra Disman is back at the Northridge Branch for the year 2026-2027, beginning a series of monthly bookmaking programs in July, where you will learn to make a different book each session! No experience is required and there will be new projects and things to learn for those who have attended her workshops before. All are welcome and you can attend as many sessions as you want! All materials are provided. Children aged 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

All the workshops are free including materials and for ALL AGES and ABILITIES!

We Write the Book: Craft Program for All Ages | Los Angeles Public Library

Time: Saturdays at 11:00- 12:30 p.m. (Most are the last Saturday of the month excepting October, November and December 2026)
1.  Saturday, July 25th, 2026 (Kick-off!)
2.  Saturday, August 29, 2026
3.  Saturday, September 26, 2026
4.  Saturday, October 10, 2026
5.  Saturday, November 21, 2026 
6.  Saturday, December 19, 2026
7.  Saturday, January 23, 2027
8.  Saturday, February 27, 2027
9.  Saturday, March 27, 2027
10.Saturday, April 24, 2027
11.Saturday, May 22, 2027
12.Culmination: Saturday, June 26, 2027 (sharing of books through display and readings, short making workshop!) 

This program is made possible by a grant from the City of Los Department of Cultural Affairs.

For disability-related accommodations, please call (213) 228-7430 at least five business days prior to the event.

Northridge

BLACK, WHITE and GRAY: at Drawing Rooms

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​Black, White and Gray
Drawing Rooms Solo Project Space
Reception Saturday 6/13/26 6-8pm
OPENING JUNE 13TH, 2026 at Drawing Rooms!

I am pleased to share that I am participating in the exhibition “Black, White & Gray” at DRAWING ROOMS, curated by Anne Trauben
The achromatic “Black, White & Gray” exhibition runs from  6/11/26 – 7/11/26.
Please see show on ARTSY!

Showing: “Forest Through The Trees”
15 x 42 x 12″, book board, hemp cord, lace, used typewriter ribbon, wood, canvas, paint

Adi Segal, Anat Pollack, Anne Gilley, Arlene Farenci, Cara Galowitz, Cara London, Christopher Valdes, Daniele Lorio, Darcy Spitz, Debra Disman, Diane Lorio, Edward McTiernan, Elizabeth Bisbing, Eric Engel, Gaetano LaRoche, Harriet Finck, Henry Brown, Ian Mabry, Jacqueline Hayes, James Gianforti, Jennifer Florencio, JenniferWright, Jody Rasch, John Hampshire, JohnPatterson, Judi Tavill, Justin Martin, Karen Abada, Kit Callahan, Kenneth Hochberg, Laura LouLevy, Loura van der Meule, Maggie Hinders, MarcPhares, Mark Willie, Martine Kasmin, MJ King, Nazanin Parviz, Neil Agarwal, Nicole Lenzi, Pamela Flynn, Patti Jordan, Richie Vicencio, Shoshana Pofelis, Shannon Ferguson, Tatyana Kazakova, Tim Merrick, Tom Koken, Valerio Murri, Wade Chandler
Black White and Gray: an Achromatic Color Exhibit is an elegant show which includes exciting nature drawing, graphic form and a wide range of abstraction using only black, white and works in gray too.
Black and white sit on opposing ends of the grayscale. As with all achromatic colors, black lacks hue and absorbs all light wavelengths. White combines and reflects all visible wavelengths, so while it contains all colors, it is still perceived as lacking hue. The contrast between white and black is the greatest of any color combination, providing a bold and dramatic look.
Famous artworks using an achromatic color scheme—composed entirely of black, white, and grey—focus on form, contrast, and texture over color include Bridget Riley’s op-art piece “White Disks”, Kazimir Malevich’s “Black Square”, featuring a simple black square on a white background, Robert Motherwell’s “Elegy to the Spanish Republic” series, Vija Celmins’ gray-toned illustrations of oceans, deserts, and night skies, and Franz Kline’s large-scale, black-and-white abstract expressionist paintings, such as “Black, White, and Gray”. The artists in Black White & Gray: An Achromatic Color Exhibit present works in black, white and gray using their own monochromatic voice and vocabulary.In keeping with our love of music, “Black White & Gray: an Achromatic Color Exhibition” is dedicated to the song “Back to Black” by Amy Winehouse, an English singer, songwriter, and musician, a global phenomena, who blended jazz, soul, R&B into her music. Known for her distinctive contralto vocals, beehive hairstyle and tattoo’s, Amy won five Grammys and was the first British woman to do so. “Back to Black” is a critically acclaimed 2006 song detailing intense emotional turmoil, heartbreak, and despair following a breakup and reclaiming her power while singing it. We loved Amy and this song, as well as so many of her other songs.