SANCTUARY
  • Open Book
    • Featured Interviews >
      • ARCHIVES: 2023-2024 FEATURED INTERVIEWS
      • ARCHIVES: 2022 FEATURED INTERVIEWS
      • ARCHIVES: 2021 FEATURED INTERVIEWS
      • ARCHIVES: 2020 FEATURED INTERVIEWS
      • ARCHIVES: 2019 FEATURED INTERVIEWS
      • ARCHIVES: 2018 FEATURED INTERVIEWS
      • ARCHIVES: 2017 FEATURED INTERVIEWS
      • ARCHIVES: 2016 FEATURED INTERVIEWS
    • More Interviews >
      • Archives : Interviews 2022-2023
      • Archives: Interviews 2020-2021
      • ARCHIVES: Interviews 2019
      • ARCHIVES: Interviews 2018
      • ARCHIVES: Interviews 2017
      • ARCHIVES: Interviews 2016
    • Autism Awareness 2024 >
      • Autism Awareness 2023
      • Autism Awareness 2022
      • Autism Awareness 2021
      • Autism Awareness 2020
      • Autism Awareness 2019
      • Autism Awareness 2018
  • Blank Canvas
    • Featured Artists >
      • 2024 Featured Artist Updates
      • Featured Artists Archives: 2023-2024
      • Featured Artist Archives: 2022
      • Featured Artist Archives: 2021
      • Featured Artist Archives: 2020
      • Featured Artist Archives: 2019
      • Featured Artist Archives: 2018
      • Featured Artist Archives: 2017
      • Featured Artist Archives: 2016
    • Selected Works >
      • Art Times Library
    • CULTURE CRAWL >
      • Archives: Culture Crawl
    • 2024 Focus on Youth >
      • 2023 Focus on Youth
      • 2022 Focus on Youth
      • 2021 Focus on Youth
      • 2020 Focus on Youth
      • 2019 Focus on Youth
      • 2018 Focus on Youth
      • 2017 Focus on Youth
      • 2016 Focus on Youth
    • 2024 Celebrating the Men in Our Lives >
      • 2023 Celebrating the Men in Our Lives
      • 2022 Celebrating the Men in Our Lives
      • 2021 Celebrating the Men in Our Lives
      • 2020 Celebrating the Men in Our Lives
      • 2019 Celebrating the Men in Our Lives
      • 2018 Celebrating the Men in Our Lives
      • 2017 Celebrating the Men in Our Lives
  • Body & Spirit
    • HEALTHY BODY >
      • Archives: Healthy Body
    • HEALTHY MIND >
      • Archives: Healthy Mind
    • Nutrition & Exercise >
      • LAURA'S CORNER TABLE
      • Archives: Nutrition & Exercise
    • Personal Safety >
      • Archives: Personal Safety
    • ALTERNATIVE THERAPY >
      • Archives: Alternative Therapy
    • NAVIGATING RELATIONSHIPS >
      • Archives: Navigating Relationships
  • INSPIRED LIFE
    • TRAVEL JOURNAL >
      • ARCHIVES: TRAVEL JOURNAL
    • YOUR MONEY & BUSINESS >
      • ARCHIVES: MONEY & BUSINESS
    • CAREER JOURNEY >
      • Archives: CAREER JOURNEY
    • SMART STEPS >
      • ARCHIVES: Smart Steps
    • TRAILBLAZERS >
      • ARCHIVES: Trailblazers
  • GUEST ROOM
    • Community Compass >
      • Annual Community Project
      • Reader Ramble
      • TEAM TALK
      • SPONSOR CORNER
    • ASK AN EXPERT >
      • ARCHIVES: ASK AN EXPERT
    • KINDNESS & KARMA ARCHIVES
    • We Hear You >
      • Celebrated Readers
      • TALKBACK
    • Book Giveaway 2024 >
      • Book Giveaway 2024 Winners' Circle
      • Book Giveaway 2023 Winners' Circle
      • Book Giveaway 2022 Winners' Circle
      • Book Giveaway 2021 Winners' Circle
      • Book Giveaway 2020 Winners' Circle
    • Submit Your Work
    • Surveys
  • Advertise
    • Media Kit
    • Sponsor Ad Packages
    • Meet Our Sponsors
    • Events-Services-Specials
    • Sanctuary Events
    • Coffee & Conversation
  • About
    • Myrna's Musings
    • Our Team
    • Support Us
    • CONTACT US
  • Store

Fine ​Art


DEBRA FRIEDKIN: 
Sculptor & Mixed Media Artist

Picture
Pandora's Box
Mixed Media Collage
© Debra Friedkin
Picture
Road to Heaven
Mixed Media Collage
© Debra Friedkin
Picture
Borrowed Time
Mixed Media Sculpture & Metal Assemblage
© Debra Friedkin
Picture
Trojan Horse
Mixed Media Sculpture & Metal Assemblage
© Debra Friedkin
Debra discusses her work and her use of a wide range of mediums.

You use a variety of mediums and materials. Any favorites or favorite combinations?
​

I love using metal parts and objects, the rustier the better. I also love using parts of plastic toys, usually science fiction figures. These combinations are fun to create and fun to look at! I scour flea markets, garage sales and junk shops, and people often donate items to me. It could be anywhere from Times Square to Dead Horse Bay in Brooklyn (a beach built over a landfill) where inspiration hits. My collage work uses found paper clippings, which I draw and paint over to create a story.
Picture
The Early Bird Catches the Heartworms
Mixed Media Sculpture & Metal Assemblage
© Debra Friedkin
Picture
Doberman Dog Coffee Urn
Metal Assemblage
© Debra Friedkin
Picture
Medical Models
Mixed Media Sculpture & Metal Assemblage 
​
© Debra Friedkin
Your work is out-of-the-box. Your use of body parts and odd juxtapositions invites the viewer to pause...examine...and reflect. What inspires you to create these unusual pieces?

My experience as a nurse for 25 years in New York City hospitals has fed my imagination and led me to sculpt body parts and put them in dioramas. A love of science fiction since childhood has greatly influenced my work. I use metal and plastic found objects to create whimsical and darkly humorous works of art. But it is important to me to maintain a sense of innocence so I can look at each piece with fresh eyes. I’m working on various series, ranging from a “Kitsch-en ware Dog Series” to “Reimagined Toys from the Attic.”
Picture
Testament
Mixed Media Sculpture & Metal Assemblage
© Debra Friedkin
Picture
Revolution
Mixed Media Collage
© Debra Friedkin
What do you hope the viewer takes away?

My work is narrative but always leaves room for the viewer to continue the story. I hope it sparks the viewers to regain their own sense of innocence. Most of all I hope to provoke a reaction and stimulate a dialog. ​
Picture
The Hobo Dreams Worlds
Mixed Media Collage
© Debra Friedkin

Debra Friedkin studied at The Art Students League of New York and Westchester Art Workshop. She mentored privately with Lester Zakarin, an illustrator for Stan Lee Marvel Comics. Her narrative mixed media collages, sculptures and metal assemblages are based on concepts of recycling and repurposing, deconstruction and reinvention.
 
Debra is a juried member of the Salmagundi Art Club in New York City, where she serves on the Jury of Awards and the Admissions Committee. Other professional affiliations include National Association of Women Artists, Audubon Artists, and Williamsburg Art and Historical Center. An award-winning artist, Debra has widely exhibited in galleries and museums throughout the tri-state area.
 
Her work is held in private collections; and a series of her sculptures are included in the permanent collection at the Williamsburg Art and Historical Center in Brooklyn, NY.

Picture
Ebi Sushi
Mixed Media Sculpture
© Debra Friedkin
Debra's Website
Picture
Follow Debra on:

FACEBOOK
​INSTAGRAM

UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS:

View Out my Window Exhibition
Salmagundi Club
New York City

SJAC 2020
Tenri Cultural Institute of New York
(Check site for updates due to pandemic.)

Debra Friedkin Sculptures
Greenburgh Public Library 
Tarrytown Road
Elmsford, NY

​NEWS...

June Themes:
Culture, Relationships & Exploration

Next Community Compass/Corresponding E-newsletter publishes:
Mid-June
​
Coffee & Conversation Play List


Next Coffee & Conversation Show:
"Light & Connection: An Artist's Perspective"
Picture
SEND YOUR SUGGESTIONS:
Let us know what you would like
to see and read about in SANCTUARY.
[email protected]
MERCH STORE
Picture
Support Us
Please LIKE us and FOLLOW us!
USE:
#WheresYourSanctuary
SEND US A GOOGLE REVIEW!

© 2025 Sanctuary Online, LLC
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
​Opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily the opinion of this publication.
  • Open Book
    • Featured Interviews >
      • ARCHIVES: 2023-2024 FEATURED INTERVIEWS
      • ARCHIVES: 2022 FEATURED INTERVIEWS
      • ARCHIVES: 2021 FEATURED INTERVIEWS
      • ARCHIVES: 2020 FEATURED INTERVIEWS
      • ARCHIVES: 2019 FEATURED INTERVIEWS
      • ARCHIVES: 2018 FEATURED INTERVIEWS
      • ARCHIVES: 2017 FEATURED INTERVIEWS
      • ARCHIVES: 2016 FEATURED INTERVIEWS
    • More Interviews >
      • Archives : Interviews 2022-2023
      • Archives: Interviews 2020-2021
      • ARCHIVES: Interviews 2019
      • ARCHIVES: Interviews 2018
      • ARCHIVES: Interviews 2017
      • ARCHIVES: Interviews 2016
    • Autism Awareness 2024 >
      • Autism Awareness 2023
      • Autism Awareness 2022
      • Autism Awareness 2021
      • Autism Awareness 2020
      • Autism Awareness 2019
      • Autism Awareness 2018
  • Blank Canvas
    • Featured Artists >
      • 2024 Featured Artist Updates
      • Featured Artists Archives: 2023-2024
      • Featured Artist Archives: 2022
      • Featured Artist Archives: 2021
      • Featured Artist Archives: 2020
      • Featured Artist Archives: 2019
      • Featured Artist Archives: 2018
      • Featured Artist Archives: 2017
      • Featured Artist Archives: 2016
    • Selected Works >
      • Art Times Library
    • CULTURE CRAWL >
      • Archives: Culture Crawl
    • 2024 Focus on Youth >
      • 2023 Focus on Youth
      • 2022 Focus on Youth
      • 2021 Focus on Youth
      • 2020 Focus on Youth
      • 2019 Focus on Youth
      • 2018 Focus on Youth
      • 2017 Focus on Youth
      • 2016 Focus on Youth
    • 2024 Celebrating the Men in Our Lives >
      • 2023 Celebrating the Men in Our Lives
      • 2022 Celebrating the Men in Our Lives
      • 2021 Celebrating the Men in Our Lives
      • 2020 Celebrating the Men in Our Lives
      • 2019 Celebrating the Men in Our Lives
      • 2018 Celebrating the Men in Our Lives
      • 2017 Celebrating the Men in Our Lives
  • Body & Spirit
    • HEALTHY BODY >
      • Archives: Healthy Body
    • HEALTHY MIND >
      • Archives: Healthy Mind
    • Nutrition & Exercise >
      • LAURA'S CORNER TABLE
      • Archives: Nutrition & Exercise
    • Personal Safety >
      • Archives: Personal Safety
    • ALTERNATIVE THERAPY >
      • Archives: Alternative Therapy
    • NAVIGATING RELATIONSHIPS >
      • Archives: Navigating Relationships
  • INSPIRED LIFE
    • TRAVEL JOURNAL >
      • ARCHIVES: TRAVEL JOURNAL
    • YOUR MONEY & BUSINESS >
      • ARCHIVES: MONEY & BUSINESS
    • CAREER JOURNEY >
      • Archives: CAREER JOURNEY
    • SMART STEPS >
      • ARCHIVES: Smart Steps
    • TRAILBLAZERS >
      • ARCHIVES: Trailblazers
  • GUEST ROOM
    • Community Compass >
      • Annual Community Project
      • Reader Ramble
      • TEAM TALK
      • SPONSOR CORNER
    • ASK AN EXPERT >
      • ARCHIVES: ASK AN EXPERT
    • KINDNESS & KARMA ARCHIVES
    • We Hear You >
      • Celebrated Readers
      • TALKBACK
    • Book Giveaway 2024 >
      • Book Giveaway 2024 Winners' Circle
      • Book Giveaway 2023 Winners' Circle
      • Book Giveaway 2022 Winners' Circle
      • Book Giveaway 2021 Winners' Circle
      • Book Giveaway 2020 Winners' Circle
    • Submit Your Work
    • Surveys
  • Advertise
    • Media Kit
    • Sponsor Ad Packages
    • Meet Our Sponsors
    • Events-Services-Specials
    • Sanctuary Events
    • Coffee & Conversation
  • About
    • Myrna's Musings
    • Our Team
    • Support Us
    • CONTACT US
  • Store