British artist, Deborah Duffin, best known for her sculptural works with wire and collected materials, began exhibiting as a first-year student, when she was selected to represent her college in the Stowell's Trophy exhibition in London; she subsequently won the Winsor and Newton Student Award (1976). Moving to London on graduation, she developed a career in 80's East London, exhibiting widely and exploring the interplay between drawing, sculpture, installation and photography. A commission for British Telecommunications in 1995, using their old telephone wire, led to a solo show at the Barbican Art Gallery, London (1996). The birth of her son, led to a break in her career. She continued to work on domestic commissions, while home educating her son, involving him in her work. She began to re-develop her career in 2010, exhibiting and undertaking commissions.
In 1984 she curated a series of exhibitions at 'J' Warehouse, London - an early example of artist-led shows. Her books: 'Organise Your Exhibition' (1987) and 'Investigating Galleries' (1994) sold worldwide, contributing to the rise of artist led events. In the early '80's she advised Central Saint Martins in setting up their first professional practise seminars and developed innovative workshops for artists, countrywide. In1989 she was invited to become the first co-ordinator of the East End Open Studios by the Whitechapel Gallery, London. She taught sculpture at Central Saint Martins and Foundation at Sir John Cass School of Art. Through the 80's and 90's she was a visiting lecturer at numerous institutions, including: Royal College of Art; Glasgow School of Art; Canterbury College of Art; New York Summer School and a regular writer for AN Publications. She has also contributed to books, catalogues and publications including: Public Art Review, USA, The Independent; 'New Feminist Art Criticism'.
Her work is held in public and corporate collections including: British Telecommunications; Liberty Global; FJS Associates, USA; The Women's Art Collection, University of Cambridge; and private collections in the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Her work is featured in many publications including: 'The Artist in the Changing City, British American Arts Association; 'Interviews Artists - Patterns of Experience', CV Publications, and in Art UK. She was recently interviewed by ZoneOneArts, Melbourne, Australia. She is a member of the Royal Society of Sculptors and lives and works in Bristol.
The Women's Art Collection, University of Cambridge