"My work delves into the intangible aspect of the tangible. I think of
my paintings as dreamscapes, or psychological environments. The
figure and symbolism are used metaphorically, with a penchant for
the absurd. Humor often counterbalances a more serene background,
which mirrors my personal point of view."
The interpretive narrative of Deborah Van Auten's images are meant to transport, and to provide a platform for
reflection and discovery.
The Dutch Masters and Italian Renaissance painters left an indelible imprint on Van Auten as she explored the
personal context of self-expression in her art. A reverence for painters of the past is evident in her work, where
old world style combines with contemporary images in dream-like worlds rich with symbolism.
Deborah has spent her adult years in San Francisco, London, Boston, and New York where she studied at the Art
Students League, School of Visual Arts, and was awarded a scholarship to the Salmagundi Club.
The award-winning work of Van Auten is in many private collections, and has been exhibited nationally. She
has been featured in such books and publications as Who's Who in Visual Arts: 42 Masters of Realistic Imagery,
Contemporary Art in Focus: Modern Masters, Art in America, American Art Collector, Art News, Studio Visit, and
Southwest Art Magazine, among others. Van Auten is represented by Arden Gallery in Boston. She paints full
time in her studio at Boston Center for the Arts in Boston, Massachusetts.