About



“d.a.gordon dart creates a quiet, peaceful world on her canvases. There is a nostalgic charm in her paintings that gives the viewers a feeling of harmony and exhilaration.” Marcia Corbino, The Christian Science Monitor

Deborah immensely enjoys creating artwork and installations that make people smile.  Her style has the simplicity of American primitive painters and the meticulous rendering of a technical illustrator.   There is a stillness to her work,  always a pleasantness and often a touch of sly humor.  

She started exhibiting her work in 1973 and her drawings began appearing in The New Yorker Magazine in 1975. Her paintings have been shown nationally in galleries, juried shows, competitions and solo exhibits. Her illustrations have appeared on magazine covers, in articles, books, calendars, pamphlets, and advertisements for major periodicals and publishers.

Deborah stopped painting full time in 1986 to raise two daughters and volunteer her time and energy to historic preservation projects in her community. Ten years later she returned to art with a new dimension completing her first major sculpture in 1996 – a 16 foot mild and stainless steel piece commissioned by Ball Construction, Inc..

Her most recent painting subjects include landmark historic buildings that once defined Florida’s unique alluring landscape.  Her new sculptures are large, seriously whimsical animals cut from aluminum plate and powder coated in vivid bright colors.




Education:

  • Philadelphia College of Art
  • Kent State University
  • University of Miami
  • Ringling School of Art and Design

Past Gallery Representation:

  • Ziegenfuss Gallery of Fine Art, Florida
  • Oehlschlaerger Gallery, Florida
  • Brubaker Gallery, Florida
  • Coryell Gallery, New Jersey
  • The Collectors Room, Pennsylvania
  • Buyways Gallery, Florida
  • The Canopy, Pennsylvania
  • One of a Kind Gallery, Florida
  • Alerbescht Gallery, Pennsylvania

Published Artwork/ Illustrations:

Installations:

  • “Community“ - 16′ steel sculpture – Rosemary Historic District, Sarasota, Florida
  • “The Heart of Sarasota, The Magnificent Circus“ – 78′ mural on Robarts Arena facade – Sarasota, Fla.
  • “Walter- Going Down” – 5.5′ aluminum sculpture – Laurel Park Historic District, Sarasota, Florida
  • “Walter-Coming Up” – 2′ x 3′ aluminum sculpture – Laurel Park Historic District, Sarasota, Florida
  • ” Walter II” – 5.8′ aluminum sculpture – Los Altos, California

Honorary Projects:

  • Florida House – Artist of the Year 2004
  • The Florida Winefest – Artist of the Year 2003
  • The Humane Society of Sarasota Cty – Artist of the Year 1998
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium
  • Historic Spanish Point
  • Crowley Museum and Nature Center
  • Historical Society of Sarasota County
  • Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation
  • Moffitt/Sarasota Cancer Coalition – 2003 Key to the Cure

Honorary Member:

  • Who’s Who of American Women
  • Who’s Who in American Art

Solo Exhibitions:

  • 1986 – Oehlschlaeger Galleries, Sarasota, Fl
  • 1984 – Brubaker Gallery, Sarasota, FL
  • 1981 – Brubaker Gallery, Sarasota, FL
  • 1979 – Brubaker Gallery, Sarasota, FL
  • 1978 – Brubaker Gallery, Sarasota, FL
  • 1976 – Coryell Gallery, Lambertville, NJ
  • 1975 - Phillips Mill, Bucks County, PA
  • 1975 – The New Hope Library, New Hope, PA
  • 1975 – The Lambertville House, Lambertville, NJ
  • 1974 – McKay Auditorium, Tampa, FL
  • 1974 – The Collectors Room, Carversville, PA
  • 1974 – The Lambertville House, Lambertville, NJ

Exhibitions / Competitions:

  • 2009 – European Circus Federation, Auditorium Ranier III, Monte Carlo
  • 2004 – 13th Annual Town of Longboat Key Exhibition, Center for the Arts
  • 2003 – 12th Annual Town of Longboat Key Exhibition, Center for the Arts- 3rd Place
  • 2003 – Impressions Juried Exhibition, The Art League of Manatee County
  • 2002 – Petticoat Painters 49th Annual Show, The Celery Barn, Sarasota, FL
  • 2002 – Ziegenfuss Gallery, Sarasota. FL – 2 Person Show
  • 2001 – Multiple Visions: Part II, Selby Gallery, Ringling School of Art & Design
  • 2001 – 48th Annual Petticoat Painters Show, The Celery Barn, Sarasota, FL
  • 2000 – 47th Annual Petticoat Painter Show, Art League of Manatee County
  • 1999 – 46th Annual Petticoat Painter Show, Hilton Leech Gallery, Sarasota, FL
  • 1997 – Group Exhibition, Ziegenfuss Gallery of Art, Sarasota, FL
  • 1982 – 29th Annual Petticoat Painters Show, Hilton Leech Gallery, Sarasota, FL
  • 1981 – 18th Annual Major Fla. Artists Show, Foster Harmon Gallery, Sarasota
  • 1981 – 28th Annual Petticoat Painters Show, Hilton Leech Gallery, Sarasota, FL
  • 1980 -17th Annual Major Florida Artists Show, Naples, Fl- 1st National Bank and Trust Co. of Naples “Painting Award”
  • 1980 – 8th Annual Plaza Arts Show, Sarasota, Florida- 3rd Place
  • 1980 – 27th Annual Petticoat Painters Show, Hilton Leech Gallery, Sarasota, FL- Popular Vote Winner
  • 1980 – Florida Artists Group Exhibition – Foster Harmon Gallery, Sarasota, FL
  • 1979 – 26th Annual Petticoat Painters Show, Hilton Leech Gallery, Sarasota, FL
  • 1979 – Arvida State of Florida Juried Exhibition, Sarasota, FL
  • 1978 – 25th Anniversary Petticoat Painter Show, Hilton Leech Gallery, Sarasota
  • 1977 – 24th Annual Petticoat Painter Show, Hilton Leech Gallery, Sarasota, FL – Popular Vote Winner
  • 1977 – Leech, Dart & Hartley, Hilton Leech Gallery, Sarasota, FL
  • 1976 – American Bicentennial Art Competition, National Bank, Sarasota, FL- Merit Award
  • 1976 – 22nd Art Exhibit, Yardley Art Association, Yardley, PA
  • 1976 – Southeast Bank, Sarasota, Fl
  • 1975 – Yardley Art Center Juried Show, Yardley, PA
  • 1976 – Tinicum Art Show, Tinicum, PA
  • 1976 – Bicentennial Exhibition, The Collectors Room, Carversville, PA
  • 1976 – Members Fall Open, Sarasota Art Asso., Sarasota, FL- First Place
  • 1976 – 22nd Annual Petticoat Painters Show, Hilton Leech Gallery, Sarasota, FL
  • 1974 – 2nd Annual Plaza Art Show, Sarasota, FL- Honorable Mention
  • 1974 – Venice Fiesta Art Show, Venice, FL
  • 1974 – Halifax Juried Art Show, Ormond Beach, FL
  • 1974 – Gulf Gate Mall Art Show, Sarasota, FL- 2nd Place
  • 1974 – 26th Annual Tinicum Art Show, Tincum, PA
  • 1974 – Plymouth Meeting Art Show, Plymouth Meeting, PA
  • 1974 – 20th Annual Juried Art Show, Yardley Art Center, Yardley, PA
  • 1974 – Bucks County Artists Juried Art Exhibition, Stovers Mill, PA
  • 1974 – 4th Annual Bridgton Arts Show, Bridgton, ME
  • 1974 – Jenkintown Festival of the Arts, Jenkintown, PA
  • 1973 – 1st Annual Plaza Art Show, Sarasota, FL
  • 1973 – Allied Arts Council, Sarasota, FL- Equal Merit Award
  • 1973 – 44th Annual Phillips Mill Art Exhibit, Bucks County, PA
  • 1973 – 7th Annual Doylestown Art Show – Doylestown, PA
  • 1973 – 13th Annual Willow Grove Art Show, Willow Grove, PA
  • 1973 – Perkasie Art Show, Perkasie, PA
  • 1973 – Members Spring Open Exhibit, Sarasota Art Association, Sarasota, FL
  • 1973 – Members Fall Open Show, Sarasota Art Asso., Sarasota, FL

Commissions:

  • Mr. & Mrs. James Jester, Greensboro, NC
  • Mr. & Mrs. Daniel P. Ball, Sarasota, FL
  • Feld Entertainment, Inc., Vienna, VA
  • Mr. Hank Turner, Doylestown, PA
  • Mrs. Joyce Gordon, Birmingham, AL
  • Dr. Murph Klauber, Colony Beach & Tennis Club, Longboat Key, FL
  • The Don Brubaker Family
  • Reason’s Shoes, Sarasota, FL
  • Eastern Roll Form, Inc., Bristol, PA
  • Mr. & Mrs. William Tinsman, Lumberville, PA
  • Mr. David Cohen, Sarasota, FL
  • Mr. & Mrs. John Wiener, Boca Grande, FL
  • Ball Construction, Inc., Sarasota, FL
  • Mrs. George Smith, Westfield, NJ
  • The Mole Hole, Boca Grande, FL
  • Richard Partridge & Kathryn Green, Los Altos, CA

Collections:

  • The New Yorker
  • Knapp Communications Corporation
  • Barrington Museum of American Folk Art, Delray Beach, Florida
  • Callen Mfg. Company
  • Ms. Judy Graham
  • The New York Public Library
  • Michael Saunders & Co.
  • Mr. & Mrs. Peter Fuss
  • Mr. & Mrs. Sanford Weill
  • Mr. John Thompson
  • Mr. & Mrs. Greg Hoesly

Studio Tour:

  • 10th Annual Artists and Collectors Tour, The Fine Arts Society of Sarasota

Articles / Reviews:

  • Christian Science Monitor – November 15, 1978
  • Las Vegas Sun – December 3, 1978
  • The Tampa Tribune – November 28, 1978
  • Sarasota Herald Tribune – Oct. 27, 1978 / Nov. 12, 1979 / June 21, 1987
  • Daily Intelligencer – Dec. 26, 1974 / Dec. 1, 1978
  • Art Voices South Magazine
  • The Bradenton Herald – June 27, 1982
  • Sarasota Journal – July 8, 1982
  • Lambertville Beacon/News – Feb. 27, 1975
  • Sarasota Herald Tribune - December 11, 2010
  • SRQ Daily - ” Fashionista Turned Tourista” March 22, 2011
  • SRQ Magazine - April 2011