Deborah Simon - Animalistic Abstraction

In this episode of NeedleXChange, I interview Deborah Simon. Deborah is a Brooklyn-based sculptor and embroiderer known for her hauntingly beautiful bears and rabbits that blend faux fur, taxidermy and anatomy.

We talk about her early influences, how she went from painting to sculpture, and why she’s so fascinated by the tension between the cuddly teddy bear and the deadly wild bear - plus how camping trips and natural history books shaped her work.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:01:30 – Introduction to Artistic Inspirations & Early Influences

00:04:12 – The Evolution from Drawing Animals to Sculpting Them

00:06:54 – Blending Art and Science — Anatomy Meets Embroidery

00:09:44 – Historical Anatomy Illustrations as Creative Reference

00:12:38 – The Role of Nature and Camping in Choosing Animal Subjects

00:15:22 – Developing the Bear Series — Teddy Bears vs. Trophy Bears

00:18:09 – Exploring the Idea of Charismatic Megafauna

00:20:50 – Cultural Reflections — How We See Wild Animals

00:23:37 – Art School Experiences and Early Influences

00:26:31 – Balancing Overthinking with Staying Creative

00:36:02 – Knowing When a Piece is Finished & Letting Go

00:36:54 – Shifting to Rabbits and Transparent Bodies

00:37:50 – Learning Embroidery and Mixing Needlework with Sculpture

00:40:07 – Pushing Back on Gender Norms in Textile Art

Links:

Website: deborahsimon.net

Instagram: deborahasimon

Intro music is Looking Like Me 1 by David Björk via Epidemic Sound.

About NeedleXChange:

NeedleXChange is a conversation podcast with embroidery and textile artists, exploring their process and practice.Hosted by Jamie "Mr X Stitch" Chalmers, it is an in-depth showcase of the best needlework artists on the planet.

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