Debora Ratliff

Artist Statement

My work is rooted in the culture, colors, landscapes, and nature of New Mexico and the American West, with my own stories moving through every layer. Working without a plan, I build up and break open — adding paint, marks, and words, then excavating to find what accumulated beneath. Colors, shapes, and their infinite combinations continue to engage and surprise me. Making art has become a form of unguided meditation: I never know where a painting will end up, and that’s precisely the point. My stories are in the work. With any luck, others may find parts of their own there, too.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​