Deborah Riccardi
Part-Time Faculty, Fine Arts
BFA, Tyler School of Art, Temple University; MFA, University of Pennsylvania, The Barnes Foundation, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts
Bio:
After my MFA at University of Pennsylvania, I began as a student at The Barnes Foundation in 1990. At the Barnes Foundation, I eventually became a teacher, lecturer, researcher, Docent Coordinator, Assistant to Director of Education and Arboretum, Archivist, Co-founder of School Visitation Program for Kindergarten through Graduate School, Edlerhostel Program, French International Program and Acting Interim Director of Education. I was trained in the Albert C. Barnes and John Dewey objective method of study in application to aesthetics. I have been involved at the Philadelphia Sketch Club since 2002. I have worked in archives and chaired the Absolutely Abstract show in 2008 and 2009. I have been involved in community service projects such as a designing and creating a wall mural in Kensington, Philadelphia for the Open Door Community Center. I have traveled all over the world lecturing and teaching in Paris, Italy, England, Switzerland, and Ireland. My recent travels to Haiti and Papua, New Guinea to build houses with Habitat for Humanity allowed me to photograph and draw the people in their native cultural settings. Painting about my travel experiences and working on my Tree of Life Series is my primary focus at this time. Presently, I am painting and exhibiting my work as well as teaching. I also was the Inventory manager of the Barnes Foundation collections at all sites including Ker-Feal.