Deb Lill

The pieces integrate many of the artistic disciplines I’ve explored throughout my creative life. My background is rooted in traditional illustration, with a strong foundation in painting and drawing, though collage and mixed media have always been central to my process as well. After graduating from art school, I became deeply interested in historic and alternative photographic processes and was determined to establish myself as a book cover artist using those techniques—which I eventually did.

Two of the pieces in this exhibit include photo-illustrations originally created for published book covers. I’ve always loved the challenge of distilling the essence of a novel down into one compelling image. While developing this series, I thought it would be interesting to revisit some of those earlier cover images and use them as inspiration for assemblages.

Although digital tools have largely replaced the historic photographic techniques I once used, I wanted to acknowledge the importance of that early work as an integral part of my creative journey. Cyanotypes created decades ago have been incorporated into a few pieces, connecting past and present in a very personal way.

Currently I own a vintage bookshop (The Lill Reading Room), where I’m surrounded by objects that have their own stories to tell. The influence of weathered papers, distressed surfaces, found objects, and time-worn relics from the past can be seen throughout my work.

Blending all my favorite art processes together in reclaimed wooden boxes feels like my creative journey coming full circle.