“Deb Perugi‘s artwork is it once beautiful and decisive. Whether it his her bold, strongly lit landscapes or strong, seamless curvilinear abstractions, there is a fearlessness in both the color and the compositions. Her best new work seems inevitable in its interlocking ribbons, ovals and parabolas of brilliant color. You can’t look away— there is so much to see and savor. She is a talent to be reckoned with.”
— John Koch, April, 2022
Artist Statement
I am inspired by the designs, colors and textures around me, including work by my fellow contemporary and 21st century artists. My paintings are defined by strong shapes and design… but also feature details of nature such as wood, leaves and animals.
FAMILY: My grandfather, Araldo Perugi, was an artist and marble sculptor from Carrara who emigrated to this country as a young man in 1916. He worked as a foreman for a marble company in Proctor, Vermont and then moved to Brooklyn, where he lived until his death at 83. The New York Times published a story about Araldo when, in his sixties, he was pulled from retirement to work on the frieze at Church of Our Savior, Corner of Park Ave and 38th Streets in NY.
SCHOOL: I received a BFA in printmaking from Penn State University in 1973 and worked as an illustrator and then a graphic designer for The Boston Globe in the 80s. During this time, I co-founded a local art exhibition at the Charlestown Navy Yard for Charlestown artists. I also continued attending classes in graphic design, photography and art with creatives such as Sam Abel and Dietmar Winkler.
RECENT: I have been regularly painting the last five years. My main mediums are oil, acrylic, and cold wax. I have been focusing on color, shape, texture, and line in an abstract way. It is an intuitive process where I continually watch for a satisfying outcome over the course of many applications or removal of paint. My goal is to produce a painting that will challenge the viewer to explore their inner feelings and emotions.
I have exhibited at ArtsWorcester, Newton Open Studios, Newton Art Association and Concord Art.
CV
BFA in printmaking from Penn State University, 1973.
Attended University of Delaware, one year toward Masters, printmaking, 1973-1974.
Illustrator and map maker for Cities Corporation, Cambridge, 1974-1978
Info-graphics Designer, The Boston Globe, 1978-1989.
Co-founded yearly art exhibition held at the Charlestown Navy Yard, sponsored by the Charlestown Preservation Society, 1982-1986
Jewelry Award, Nick Capasso, Curator, Fitchburg Art Museum
NewTV “Summer Selective”, juried by Lois Tarlow.
The Mollie L. And Henry Schoenberg Award, Newton Public Library, Newton Art Association, September 2019.
Video Interview, Museum Open House program hosted by Jay Sugarman, NewTV, May 2023
ArtsWorcester Exhibition, Worcester, July 2023
Newton Art Association, Newton Library, Sep 2023
Galatea Fine Arts, 2023 “Let There Be Light”
Galatea Fine Arts, Jan 2024 “Member Show”
Concord Art Association, Jan 2024 Members Juried 1: Painting + Sculpture juried by John Colan.
Deb is a member and webmaster at Newton Open Studios, member of Galatea Fine Arts, Boston, Newton Art Association, Concord Art Association and ArtsWayland.
©2023 Deborah Perugi. All rights reserved.