Debbie Meeks
The built environment inspires me as an artist.
I grew up in New York City, surrounded by artists and construction workers. During high school, I split my time between working as an artist’s assistant and doing manual labor on job sites. After college, I co-founded a custom woodworking shop where we brought architects’ visions to life through handcrafted furniture and cabinetry.
Life took me to Gainesville, Florida, where I taught myself software engineering and spent years in the medical device industry. After remarrying, I had the good fortune to retire early. While volunteering at a local wildlife refuge, I rediscovered my creative practice through graphic design, reigniting something that had been dormant for years.
What began as a simple desire to fill the walls of our new home evolved into an artistic practice. Today, my work draws on everything I’ve learned along the way. I build my own frames and construct sculptures using the woodworking skills honed decades ago. My paintings and three-dimensional pieces explore the tension between minimalist restraint and the bold optimism of mid-century modern design.
Each piece reflects the convergence of my experiences: the precision of engineering, the craft of woodworking, and the visual language of design. The built environment still inspires me, but now I’m the one doing the building.
Debbie Meeks 