Debra Zechowski

I am a large-scale painter/draftsperson focusing in the depiction of my working-class family. I investigate memory and nostalgia through revisiting found photographs of our domestic life. Growing up on the Greenpoint/Williamsburg boarder of Brooklyn, gentrification has significantly impacted our lives. In response to a growing sense of cultural erasure, I boldly assert images of our working class identity. 

I completed MFA study at C.U.N.Y. Queens College with a focus in painting and drawing.  Having auditioned for and attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of the Arts, I experienced the benefits of a rigorous art education as part of a public school curriculum. I understand the importance of creative outlets for youth struggling with personal and political adversity. In my upcoming work with Groundswell, I will utilize mural art as a vehicle to foster a sense of agency within my students.