Debra Friedman (1955-) Biography

Born 1955. Education: Attended York University, Toronto, 1974-76, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, 1977, and Visual Studies Workshop, Rochester, NY, 1978; School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA, B.F.A., 1981; School of the Art Institute of Chicago, M.F.A., 1985.

Career

Art photographer, 1980—. Exhibitions: MIT Creative Photography Lab, 1980; Idee Gallery, Toronto, 1983, 1985, and 1988; SE Centre for Photographic Studies, Daytona, FL, 1984; Toronto Photographers Workshop, 1985; Cincinnati Academy of Art, 1985; Illinois Development Finance Authority Building, 1985; UCLA Art Department, 1986; Burlington Cultural Centre, Burlington, Ontario, 1988; Zwiazek Polskich Artystow Fotografikow, Krakow, Poland, 1989; Artichok, Oss Netherlands, 1990; Winnipeg Art Gallery, 1990, Jane Corkin Gallery, 1990; Toronto Image Works, 1992; Betty Rymer Gallery, Chicago, IL, 1994; Stephen Bulger Gallery, Toronto, 1995; Ryerson Gallery, Toronto, 1996; The Photo Passage, Toronto, 1999; Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, Toronto, 2000; York Quay Centre, Toronto, 2001; Luft Gallery, Toronto, 2002; Pikto Gallery, Toronto, 2003. Work is permanently collected by City of Toronto Archives, Polaroid Corporation, Pende Fine Arts, Canada Council Art Bank, Illinois State Art Museum, and Art Institute of Chicago, as well as private and corporate collections.

Honors Awards

Grants from Ontario Arts Council, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1996, 1998, and 2000; grants from Polaroid Corp., 1985, 1986, and 1993; State of Illinois Art Gallery purchase award, 1985; Artichok Festival grant, 1989; residency fellowship, Hambidge Centre, 1993.

Writings

Picture This: Fun Photography and Crafts, Kids Can Press, 2003.

Creator of brochures and posters for corporate and civic clients, including United Steelworkers of America, Jobs Ontario Training Fund, and Ontario Women's Directorate.*