Debra C. Platt

Debra Ciarelli Platt was born in NYC, and after several moves to Long Island, upstate NY, and NJ, her family settled in Pittsburgh, PA. She earned a BA in Visual Arts and Design and Marketing from Point Park University, and an AA in Visual Communications from The Art Institute of Pittsburgh.

An award-winning graphic designer, Debra worked for 10 years in WQED Pittsburgh’s design center as a graphic designer and later as production manager, as well as several advertising agencies and design firms. She worked as a studio assistant to Tibetan-born, British artist Gonkar Gyatso for two years. A mother of three grown children, she currently works as a freelance graphic designer, illustrator, exhibition coordinator, and artist. Her passion projects include Master Visual Artists: Preserving the Legacy Exhibitions, Art Advocacy Speaks exhibition, and as a co-partner with Eastside Gallery along with four other women artists. A member of National Association of Women Artists (NAWA), and The Pittsburgh Group and Associated Artists of Pittsburgh (AAP) since 2011.

"I continually explore new media, and my work often combines a variety, including photography, encaustic, oils, acrylic, pastel, and watercolor. I am also a metalsmith, making jewelry in gold, sterling silver and semi-precious stones. Inspiration comes from travel, religion, spirituality, life experiences, and both natural and urban surroundings. Capturing both beauty and decay, photography is often the basis of my works. Art has always been a passion and a form of both therapy and creative expression."