Artist Statement:
My work is a continued experimentation concerning body language, sculptural medium, and color. A series of mixed-media drawings, and maquettes allow me to explore the interaction between gesture, texture, and color. The large figures illustrate interaction between the sculptures and the activity, which encircles the pieces.

The devotion to focused studies, research, and experimentation concerning areas of the human form and psyche result in the evolution of my sculptures.

The initial attraction of the observer to the position of the figure conforms to the 20th century principles of abstraction. I have established deliberate tension between realism and abstraction, femininity and masculinity, culture and character, and modernity and classicism. Slight variations in form allow for interaction between the viewer and the sculpture with relativity to other sculptures.

It is through my sculpture that I aim to encompass the mental and physical aspects of people intertwined with the social effects of everyday life.

Short Artist Biography
Deborah is a native American Indian who was born in Dallas and has lived here most of her life. After receiving her Master of Fine Art Degree in sculpture from Southern Methodist University in 1991, Deborah has worked full time in her Dallas studio and has taught sculpture at SMU and The Creative Arts School in Dallas.

Awards include the Connemara Grant in 1991 and the Art Park Project Grant in 1996 and the Buffalo Bayou installation grant. Deborah's' work is included in collections nationally and internationally including The Tom Thomas collection, Dallas, The Hanley collection, Dallas, The Nylander collection, Stockholm, Sweden, The Dedman collection, Dallas, and The Museum of Art in Monterey, Mexico.

Source:
International Sculpture Center,
http://www.sculpture.org/portfolio/sculptorPage?sculptor_id=1000276

Born: 1951, Dallas, Texas

Education:

1987-90 Master of Fine Arts Degree in Sculpture, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas
1979-81 Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Ceramics, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas
1977-79 Eastfield College, Dallas, Texas
1973-74 University of North Texas, Denton, Texas

Exhibitions:

2010 ART CHICAGO, Merchandise Mart, Chicago, Illinois (Valley House Gallery)
2010 Dallas Art Fair, FIG Building, Dallas, Texas (Valley House Gallery)
2009 Dallas Art Fair, FIG Building, Dallas, Texas (Valley House Gallery)
2009 Thank You Fort Worth: An Appreciation from Valley House Gallery & Sculpture Garden, group exhibition, Fort Worth Community Arts Center, Fort Worth, Texas
2008 CADD Contemporary Art Dealers of Dallas Art Fair, Three Three Three First Avenue, Dallas, Texas (Valley House Gallery)
2007 CADD Contemporary Art Dealers of Dallas Inaugural Art Fair, Three Three Three First Avenue, Dallas, Texas (Valley House Gallery)
2007 Deborah Ballard: Body Language (Sculpture and Wall Reliefs), Valley House Gallery & Sculpture Garden, Dallas, Texas
2006 Art International, The Barker Hangar, Santa Monica, California (Valley House Gallery)
2006 3-D on Swiss, Invitational Exhibition, Dallas Center for Contemporary Art, Dallas, Texas
2006 Walls, Jack Meier Gallery, Houston, Texas
2004 50th Anniversary Exhibition, Valley House Gallery & Sculpture Garden, Dallas, Texas
2004 Deborah Ballard, Jack Meier Gallery, Houston, Texas
2003 Small Sculptures and Drawings by Deborah Ballard, Civic Gallery, Seaside Florida
2003 Deborah Ballard Sculpture, Jack Meier Gallery, Houston, Texas
2002 Deborah Ballard and Friends, Creative Arts Gallery, Dallas, Texas
2002 Deborah Ballard, Jack Meier Gallery, Houston, Texas
2002 New Work by Deborah Ballard, Cidnee Patrick Gallery, Dallas, Texas
2001 From Wax to Bronze: Maquettes by Deborah Ballard, Henry Moore, and students of Deborah Ballard's from the Booker T. Washington High School, Dallas Museum of Art Gateway Gallery, Dallas, Texas
2001 Figurative Expressions: Works by Debra Ballard, Jeff Green, Carter Scaggs, Ellen Soderquist, Jennifer Spencer, and Nestor Zarragoitia, Collin County Community College, The Arts Gallery, Plano, Texas
2001 Deborah Ballard Sculpture, Jack Meier Gallery, Houston, Texas
2000 Sculpture of Deborah Ballard, Jack Meier Gallery, Houston, Texas
2000 Cool Summer Gardens, Invitational, Edith Baker Gallery, Dallas, Texas
2000 DepartuReturn, Invitational Alumni Exhibition, Southern Methodist University, Meadows Museum, Dallas, Texas
2000 Deborah Ballard and Ray Donley, Jack Meier Gallery, Houston, Texas
2000 Buffalo Bayou Art Park, Invitational Sculpture Exhibition, Houston, Texas
1999-2000 Masquerade, Invitational, Edith Baker Gallery, Dallas, Texas
1999 Deborah Ballard Sculpture, Taylor Contemporanea Gallery, Hot Springs, Arkansas
1999 Collaborations, traveling invitational exhibition, 500X Gallery, Dallas, Texas and the Community Artists' Collective, Houston, Texas
1999 Masters of the 90's, Hawn Gallery, Southern Methodist University, Dallas
1999 The New Work of Deborah Ballard, Edith Baker Gallery, Dallas, Texas
1998 Art Park National Juried Invitational, Tranquility Park, Houston, Texas
1997-1998 Convergence of Kinds, collaboration invitational, North Lake College Gallery, Irving, Texas
1997 50th Anniversary TVAA Exhibition, North Park Center, Dallas, Texas
1996-1997 Hope, Invitational, Edith Baker Gallery, Dallas, Texas
1996 Ballard and Siptak, Edith Baker Gallery, Dallas, Texas
1996 Sculpture by D. Ballard, Mother Dog Gallery, Houston, Texas
1996 Art Park, National juried invitational, Tranquility Park, Houston, Texas
1995-1996 Basket/Case, Edith Baker Gallery, Dallas, Texas
1995 In the Eye of the Beholder, curated by prominent Texas collectors, The Edith Baker Gallery, Dallas, Texas
1995 Showing Off the DCCCD Faculty, D-Art Gallery, Dallas, Texas
1995 1995 Members Invitational, McKinney Avenue Contemporary Gallery, Dallas, Texas
1995 Invitational, Front Room Gallery, Mother Dog, Houston, Texas
1994 Images 1994, Recent Work, Hickory Street Annex Gallery, Dallas, Texas
1994 A Show of Hands, Edith Baker Gallery, Dallas, Texas
1993-1994 Senses Beyond Sight, Museum of Abilene, Abilene, Texas
1992 Faculty Exhibition, Brookhaven College, Farmers Branch, Texas
1992 The Figure, Edith Baker Gallery, Dallas, Texas
1992 Mother/Child, Fitzgerald Fine Arts Gallery, Alexandria, Virginia
1992 15X15X15, LSU Union Art Gallery, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
1992 Recent Work, Hickory Street Annex Gallery, Dallas, Texas
1992 Senses Beyond Sight, D Art Gallery, traveling exhibition, Dallas, Texas
1992 Small Treasures, Edith Baker Gallery, Dallas, Texas
1991 Connemara 10th Annual Sculpture Exhibition, Connemara Conservancy Foundation, Allen, Texas
1991 Work by D. Ballard, The National Institutes of Health Clinical Central Galleries, Bethesda, Maryland
1991 D. Ballard, Georgetown University Lombardi Research Center, Atrium Gallery, Washington, D.C.
1991 Sculpture, Brookhaven College Galleries, Farmers Branch, Texas
1991 Small Works, Edith Baker Gallery, Dallas, Texas
1988-1989 Sculpture in the Plaza, juror Joe Kagle of The Waco Art Center, The Plaza of the Americas, Dallas, Texas
1988 Sculpture at the Bar, Curated by Marla Price, Belo Mansion, Dallas, Texas
1988 KERA Festival of Art, Grand Kempinski Hotel, Juror: Adolfo Nadle, Dallas, Texas
1988 Totems, Edith Baker Gallery, Dallas, Texas
1988 M.F.A. Exhibition, Plaza of Americas Gallery, Dallas, Texas
1988 D. Ballard, Plano Art Association Gallery, Plano, Texas
1988 Common Ground New Directions, Dallas Women's Caucus for Art Dallas City Hall, Juror: Luanne Stovall, Dallas, Texas
1988 Faculty Exhibition, Mountain View College, Dallas, Texas
1987 10X10X10, Edith Baker Gallery, Dallas, Texas
1986 Recent Work of Debbie Ballard, Eastfield College Art Gallery, Mesquite, Texas
1986 The Day of the Dead, Cameron University Gallery, Lawton, Oklahoma
1986 New Dimensions in Clay, Edith Baker Gallery, Dallas, Texas
1986 1st Annual Monarch Tile Competition, San Angelo Museum of Art, San Angelo, Texas
1986 Critics Choice, D Art Gallery, Dallas, Texas
1986 Texas Selects Small, Bell Plaza Gallery, Dallas, Texas
1986 150 Works by Texas Women Artists, Dallas City Hall, Dallas, Texas
1985 Recent Work of Debbie Ballard, Eastfield College Art Gallery, Mesquite, Texas
1985 The Day of the Dead, Cameron University Gallery, Lawton, Oklahoma
1984 Recent Work of Debbie Ballard, Eastfield College Art Gallery, Mesquite, Texas
1984 Galex 18, Galesburg Civic Art Center, Galesburg, Illinois

Awards, Scholarships, Commissions, and Residencies:

2008 Designed "Voices of Peace" award presented to Maya Angelou by Hope for Peace & Justice, Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas, Texas
2003 Seaside, Florida, Artists' Residency, Seaside, Florida
2000-2001 Artist-in-residence/instructor, Booker T. Washington Arts Magnet High School and The Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, Texas
1999 Buffalo Bayou Installation grant
1996 Art Park Project Grant
1991 Connemara Grant
1989-1990 The Meadows Scholarship and the Zella Art Scholarship, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas
1989 The Texas Sculpture Association Show Members' Choice Award, Trammel Crow Gallery, Dallas, Texas
1988 KERA Festival of Art Award, Grand Kempinski, Dallas, Texas
1985 The Day of the Dead, Honorable Mention Award, Cameron University Gallery, Lawton, Oklahoma

Literature:

Marlena Chavira-Medford with photography by Can Turkyilmaz and Mike Lattauzio, "Secret Garden," Preston Hollow Advocate, June 2008, page 29 (Gossips reproduced).

Rob Brinkley with photography by Joshua McHugh, "Lost & Found," Elle Décor, May 2008, Volume 19, Number 4, pages 208-215 (Great Listener reproduced on page 211.)

Marlena Chavira-Medford, "25 Reasons to Adore Our Neighborhood," Far North Dallas Advocate, June 2007, page 25 (Gossips reproduced.)

Marlena Chavira-Medford, "Out & About," Far North Dallas Advocate, May 2007, page 10 (Continued Conversations reproduced.)

Wolf Schneider, "My World: A visit with sculptor Deborah Ballard at her studio in Dallas, TX," Southwest Art: The Magazine for Today's Collector, June 2006, pages 110-111.

Deborah Wheeler, "CAA Goes to Seaside for Escape to Create," Walton Sun, January 25, 2003, page B9.

Veronica Dye, "Deborah Ballard: New Work," Artlies, Winter 2002-2003, page 69.

Laura Ainsworth, "The Art of the Garden," Advocate Magazine, Home Design 2002, page 18.

Marsha Dowler, "Escape to Create in January," The Seaside Times, Holiday 2002, page 16.

Mike Daniel, "Soft Focus," The Dallas Morning News, Guide, November 26, 1999, page 67.

Hot Springs Arkansas Civic and Convention Center Art Exhibition Catalog, Hot Springs, Arkansas, 1998-1999.

Stephen Ornes, "New Exhibit Features SMU Alumni," The Daily Campus, Arts and Entertainment,

"Women in the Visual Arts," Today's Dallas Woman Success Magazine, February 1994, page 14.

Megan Doren, "The Sky's the Limit," The Dallas Morning News, March 16, 1991, Section H, front page.

Teaching:

2005 Instructor, Design I and II, and Sculpture I and II, Eastfield College, Dallas, Texas
2000-2001 Artist-in-residence/instructor, Booker T. Washington Arts Magnet High School and Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, Texas.
2000 Summer II professor of sculpting, Brookhaven College, Farmers Branch, Texas.
1995 Visiting instructor of sculpture, Booker T. Washington Arts Magnet High School, Dallas, Texas
1995 Professor of sculpture, Brookhaven College, Farmers Branch, Texas
1994 Professor of art appreciation, Brookhaven College, Farmers Branch, Texas
1994 Professor of drawing, Brookhaven College, Farmers Branch, Texas.
1994 Sculptor for Professional Scenic Services, Las Colinas, Texas
1994 Instructor, rubber mold workshop, Creative Arts School of Dallas
1993-1994 Professor of 3-D Design, Brookhaven College, Farmers Branch, Texas
1993-1994 Instructor, ceramics, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas.
1992-1998 Professor of sculpture and art appreciation, Mountain View College, Dallas, Texas.
1991-2006 Instructor, bronze casting and figure sculpting, Southern Methodist University, Meadows School of Adult Education, Dallas, Texas
1991-2003 Instructor of sculpture, Creative Arts School of Dallas, Inc., Dallas, Texas.
1990 Teaching Assistant to Yoshiko Schranil and James Watrell in Ceramics and to James Sullivan in sculpture, Southern Methodist University
1990 Instructor, Texas Sculpture Associations' paper casting workshop, Dallas, Texas
1988-1989 Teaching Assistant to Professor John McElroy and Yoshiko Schranil in Ceramics, and to Phillip Van Kuren in sculpture, Southern Methodist University.
1983-1988 Instructor of summer program and workshops in drawing, painting and ceramics for 1st through 12th grade students, Dallas Christian School, Dallas, Texas

Positions:

1989-1990 Vice President, Board of Directors of the Texas Sculptors Association
1988-1989 Sculptor for Southern Methodist University Theater Department
1988-1989 Sculptor for Professional Scenic Services, Las Colinas, Texas
1988-1989 Gallery Selection Committee, Southern Methodist University, Umphrey Lee Gallery, Dallas, Texas
1987-1988 Secretary, Board of Directors of the Texas Sculpture Association

Public Collections:

Arcorp, Inc., Greenville, Ohio
Golden Acres Retirement Center, Dallas, Texas
Southern Methodist University, Meadows Museum, Dallas, Texas
Sparkman/Hillcrest Memorial Park, Dallas, Texas
T.O.P.S. Inc., Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The Museum of Art of Monterey, Mexico
The San Angelo Museum of Art, San Angelo, Texas