As an artist I am compelled to develop artwork based on color, composition, creativity, and contrast. I strive for technical excellence while allowing myself freedom of expression. My work is an extension of myself and expresses my thoughts, feelings, and vision as an artist.


Awards

2024

  • Robin D. Henry Merit Award, 126th Annual Exhibition by Indiana and Ohio Artists, Richmond Art Museum, Richmond, Indiana

  • Honorable Mention, NOWOH Exhibition, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio

2023

  • Waite High School Distinguished Alumni Award for Art and Community Service

  • Best In Show 16th Annual Northwest Ohio Community Exhibition, Bowling Green State University Fine Art Center, Bowling Green, Ohio

  • First Place, Swanton Fine Art Exhibition, Swanton, Ohio

2022

  • Best of Show, First Place & Second Place, Swanton Fine Art Exhibition, Swanton, Ohio

  • Finalist, Martha’s Vineyard Drawing Competition, Martha’s Vineyard, MA

  • Honorable Mention, 100 + 5 Exhibition, University of Toledo Center for the Visual Arts, Toledo, Ohio

2021

  • Best of Show and First Place, Swanton Fine Art Exhibition, Swanton, Ohio

  • Finalist, Martha’s Vineyard Drawing Competition, Martha’s Vineyard, MA

2019

  • Finalists, Inaugural Martha’s Vineyard Drawing Competition, Martha’s Vineyard, MA

  • Third Place, Findlay Art League Fall Exhibition, Findlay, OH

2018

  • First Place, Swanton Fine Art Exhibition, Valleywood Country Club, Swanton, OH

2017

  • Second Place and Honorable Mention, Swanton Fine Art Exhibition, Valleywood Country Club, Swanton, OH

2016

  • First Place and People's Choice Award, Swanton Fine Art Exhibition, Valleywood Gold Culb, Swanton, OH    

2015

  • First Place Works on Paper, 71st Ohio Annual Exhibition, Zanesville Museum of Art, Zanesville, OH

  • People's Choice & Second Place, Swanton Fine Art Exhibition, Swanton, OH

2011

  • Molly Morepeth Canaday Award for Painting, 93rd Toledo Area Artist Exhibition, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, OH

2010

  • Leonardo da Vinci Award, Salon de Refuse, Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, Toledo, OH

2009

  • Second Place, A Different Perspective, Findlay Art League, Findlay, OH

  • Picasso Award & Honorable Mention, Prizm Member's Show, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH

2005

  • Third Award, 87th Toledo Area Artists Exhibition, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, OH

2005

  • Award of Merit & Hancock youth Leadership Award, 29th Annual Jurried Show, Findlay Art League, Findlay, OH

  • Purchase Award, 86th Toledo Area Artist Exhibition, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, OH

2003

  • Best of Show, Roots of Diversity Multicultural Exhibition, Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, Toledo, OH          

2002

  • Second Place, Roots of Diversity Multicultural Exhibition, Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, Toledo, OH

  • Award of Merit, The Healing Power of Art National Exhibition, Lexington Art League, Lexington, KY

  • Award for Outstanding Work, Skokie 40th Annual Art Festival, Skokie, Il

  • Second Place, Salon de Refuse, Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, Toledo, OH


publications

  • Dayton Metro Library Reimagining Works, hardbound book, 2024,

    ISBN:978-0-9707679-6-7

  • BG Independent News, Bowing Green, Ohio July 15, 2023

  • Featured Artist, American Frame, www.americanframe.com

  • Toledo Federation of Art Societies, 100 + 5 Exhibition Brochure, June 2022

  • The Blade Sunday June 26, 2022, On the Town with Barbara Hendel

  • Toledo Museum of Art’s digital Winter 2021-2022 Catalog

  • Toledo Museum of Art, arTMAtters, Winter/Spring 2021

  • Rough Draft Diaries podcast WGTE with Haley Taylor, 2021

  • Toledo Blade, Thursday November 3, 2016, Around Town

  • Toledo Balde, August 28, 2011

  • Toledo Museum of Art, Artmatters, September-December 2011

  • Toledo Museum of Art, Artmatters, January-April 2011

  • Toledo Museum of Art, Late 2011 Exhibition Brochure

  • 93rd Toledo Area Artists 2011 Exhibition Catalog

  • The City Paper, November 10, 2010

  • The Perrysburg Journal, June 2010

  • Toledo Blade, Janurary 28, 2005

  • The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, May 2005

  • The City Paper, September 6-12 2001: Matthew Weiderhold, “While many artists concentrate on one medium, Buchanan explores many tackling new forms until she conquers them. Once comfortable with her tools, Buchanan demonstrates bravado, playing light against shadow much like Kathe Kollwitz or photographer Margater Bourke-White. Her creativity seems to ooze from her body.”

  • The Weekly, 3-30-00: Rebecca Golden, “Debra Buchanan has two works in the show. “Red Plaid Shirt,” a pastel portrait depicting a man in a red plaid shirt. His piercing brown eyes gaze warily at the world through black-rimmed glasses. His dark hair is graying in a way people refer to as distinguished. Through the red plaid of the title shirt is perfectly rendered - indeed, the medium really lends itself to creating the texture of flannel - it seems as though this man would feel much more at home in a three-piece suit, complete with power tie. Something in his steady gaze conveys an authority belied by his attire. The portrait compels attention and is worthy of a second glance.”

  • The Toledo Blade, 8-17-00: Rebekah Scott, “Soft textural decorative handmade paper creations. They are neat, beaded and threaded, shadow-boxed and utterly professional.”

  • 20 North Gallery 2000: Peggy Grant, Art Director, “Debra Buchanan can be counted on to go far in the realist realm of painting. She holds an impressive record of awards and commissions for such a young artist. Her hauntingly beautiful black and white charcoal drawings are simply stunning.”


gallery representation

(custom gallery)
  • Toledo Museum of Art, Collector's Corner Gallery, Toledo, Ohio 419-255-8000 


exhibitions

2024

  • Richmon Art Museum 126th Annual Exhibition by Indiana and Ohio Artists, Richmond IN

  • Allied Artists of America 111th Annual online Exhibition September 2024

  • 17th Annual Northwest Ohio Community Art Show, Bowling Green State University, BG, OH

  • Ohio Registry 2024 Juried Exhibition

  • Allied Artist of America 2024 Associate Online Exhibition

2023

  • 19th Annual Bryn Du Art Show, Bryn Du Mansion, Granville, Ohio

  • 77th Annual Ohio Exhibition, Zanesville Museum of Art, Zanesville, Ohio

  • 16th Annual Northwest Ohio Community Art Show, Bowling Green State University, BG, OH

  • Allied Artist of America 110th Annual online Exhibition

  • Swanton Fine Art Competition, Valleywood Gold Club, Swanton, Ohio

2022

  • Martha’s Vineyard Drawing Competition, Martha’s Vineyard, MA

  • Zanesville 76th Annual Ohio Exhibition, Zanesville Museum of Art, Zanesville, Ohio

  • TFAS 100 + 5 Exhibition, University of Toledo’s CVA gallery, Toledo, Ohio

  • Time Will Tell Exhibition, Coburn Gallery Ashland University, Ashland Ohio

  • Swanton Fine Art Competition, Valleywood Golf Club, Swanton, Ohio

  • Chasing Ghosts VII, Verum Ultimum Art Gallery, Portland, OR,

2021

  • Martha’s Vineyard Drawing Prize Competition, Martha’s Vineyard, MA.

  • Swanton Fine Art Competition, Swanton, Ohio

2020

  • TFAS 100 + 3 Exhibition, Twenty North Gallery, Toledo, Ohio

  • 75th Annual Ohio Exhibition, Zanesville Museum of Art, Zanesville, Ohio

  • A Touch of Color, Pastel Exhibition, Fuller Art House, Sylvania, Ohio

2019 

  • Inaugural Martha’s Vineyard Drawing Prize Competition, Martha’s Vineyard, MA.

  • 38th Annual Michigan Fine Art Competition and Exhibition, Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, Birmingham, MI

  • Swanton Fine Art Exhibition, Valleywood Golf Club, Swanton, OH

  • 12th Annual NowOh Show, Dorothy Uber Bryan Gallery, Fine Art Center, Bowling Green State University, BG, OH

  • Findlay art League’s open Fall Exhibition, Findlay, OH

2018 

  • Swanton fine Art Exhibition, Valleywood Golf Club, Swanton, OH

  • Fuller Art House Invitational, Sylvania, OH

  • Findlay art League’s open Fall Exhibition, Findlay, Ohio2016, Swanton Fine Art Exhibition, Valleywood Gold Club, Swanton, OH

  • The Artist Kitchen Invitational Exhibition, Hudson Gallery, Sylvania, OH

  • 7th Annual NOWOH Show, Dorthy Uber Bryan Gallery, Fine Art Center, Bowling Green State University, bowling Green, OH

2017  

  • The Chautauqua National Juried Exhibition, Order & Chaos, Richmond, KY

  • Prizm Art-a-Fair Invitational Exhibition, One SeaGate, Toledo, OH

  • Swanton Fine Art Exhibition, Valleywood Golf Club, Swanton, OH

2016 

  • Swanton Fine Art Exhibition, Valleywood Golf Club, Swanton, OH

  • The Artist Kitchen Invitational Exhibition, Hudson Gallery, Sylvania, OH

  • 7th Annual NOWOH Show, Dorothy Uber Bryan Gallery, Fine Art Center, Bowling Green State University, B. G., OH

2015

  • 93rd Annual All-Media Exhibition, Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor, MI

  • Swanton Fine Art Exhibition, Valleywood Golf Club, Swanton, OH

  • 2015 Ohio State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition, Cox Fine Art Center, Columbus, OH

  • 71st Ohio Annual Exhibition, Zanesville Museum of Art, Zanesville, OH

  • People on Paper Show, Community Gallery, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, OH

2014

  • 7th Annual NOWOH Show, The Dorothy Uber Bryan Gallery, Fine Art Center, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH

2012

  • Now Wow Project National/International Exhibition, Hudson Gallery, Sylvania, OH

  • 5th Annual NOWOH Show, The Dorothy Uber Bryan Gallery, Fine Art Center, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH

2011

  • 93rd Toledo Area Artist Exhibition, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo OH

  • Prizm Creative Community Show, Community Gallery, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, OH         

2010

  • Salon de Refuse, Parkwood Gallery, The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, Toledo, OH        

2009

  • 2nd Annual NOWOH Show, The Dorothy Uber Bryan Gallery, Fine Art Center, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH

  • A Different Perspective, Findlay Art League, Findlay , OH

  • Member's Exhibition, Prizm Creative Community, The Dorothy Uber Bryan Gallery, Fine Art Center, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 

2008

  • Spring Exhibition, Lima Art Space, Lima, OH

  • 90th Toledo Area Artist Exhibition, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, OH

2007

  • Garden Exhibit, Parkwood Gallery, Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, Toledo, OH

  • Faculty Exhibition, Walter E, Terhune Gallery, Owens Community College, Toledo, OH

  • Faces Exhibition, Walter E, Terhune Gallery, Owens Community College, Toledo, OH                

2006

  • Faculty Exhibition, Walter E, Terhune Gallery, Owens Community College, Toledo, OH             

2005

  • 29th Annual Juried Show, Findlay Art League, Findlay, OH

  • Art on the Mall, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH

2004

  • Faculty Exhibition, Walter E, Terhune Gallery, Owens Community College, Toledo, OH                 

  • 86th Toledo Area Artist Exhibition, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, OH

  • 5 X 7 Group Show, Eberly Center, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH

2003

  • 85th Toledo Area Artist Exhibition, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, OH

  • 16th Annual Roots of Diversity Multicultural Exhibition, Seagate Center, Arts                             Commission of Greater Toledo, Toledo, OH

  • The Black Swamp Arts Festival, Bowling Green, OH

2002

  • Great Lakes Pastel Society Regional Exhibition, Birmingham, MI

  • 15th Annual Roots of Diversity Multicultural Exhibition, Seagate Center, Arts                             Commission of Greater Toledo, Toledo, OH  

  • The Healing Power of Art National Exhibition, Lexington Art League, Lexington, KY

  • Solo Show, The Franciscan Center, Lourdes University, Sylvania, OH

  • The Salon de Refuse Show, 20 North Gallery, Toledo, OH

2001

  • Solo Show, SeaGate Gallery, Toledo, OH

  • The Nude 2001 National/International Exhibition, Lexington Art League,  Lexington, KY

  • 2nd Annual Photography Exhibition, Turning Point Gallery, Washington D.C.

  • 83th Toledo Area Artist Exhibition, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, OH

2000

  • Harrisburg 72nd Annual National/International Exhibition, Harrisburg, PA

  • Solo Show, The Franciscan Center, Lourdes University, Sylvania, OH 

  • Midwestern Museum of Art, Elkhart, IN  


education

 

  • Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, Masters in Education, Curriculum/Teaching

  • Columbus College of Art and Design, Columbus, Ohio, BFA, Illustration/Advertising

  • Louisiana Tech University, Ruston Louisianan, European Study Program, Italy, Greece, France


COLLABORATION Projects

2024

  • Ohio Department of Agriculture – Animal Disease Laboratory, My design was selected andcompleted by glass mosaic artist Gail Christofferson

  • Warsaw Indiana, Sculpture my artwork for art was used by Gail Christofferson to complete the project which was designed by Craig Hamilton

2023

  • Bowling Green State University Alumni Center, working in collaboration Gail Christfferson, my design was selected to be installed as a 10 x 6 foot glass mosaic mural

  • Bowling Green Senior Center, collaborating with glass mosaic artist Gail Christofferson, my design was installed as a glass mosiac

  • Facebook Data Center, New Albany Ohio

  • Sylvania Bridge Project, Sylvania, Ohio

2022

  • Bright View Senior Living, Virginia, Working in collaboration with glass mosaic artist Gail

    Christofferson, my concept and design was selected to be installed as a glass mosaic mural

  • Facebook Data Center, New Albany, Ohio, Working in collaboration with glass artist Gail Christofferson, my concept and design was selected and implemented by glass mosaic artist Gail Christofferson

  • Franklin Park Mall, Working in collaboration with glass artist Gai Christofferson and designer Craig Hamilton, my concept weas implemented by Gail Christofferrson as a hanging sculpture

2021

  • Detroit Institute of Art, for the Macomb Library my design was selected and implemented by glass mosaic artist Gail Christofferson

  • New Mexico, Albuquerque Government Offices, My design concept was selected and implemented as a mural by glass mosiac artist Gail Christofferson

  • Our House, Ypsilanti, Michigan, my design was selected and implemented by glass mosaic artist Gail Christofferson as a 5 x 12 foot mural

2020

  • Simpson Garden Park, Bowling green, Ohio, my design executed in glass by Gail Christofferson as a sculpture in the park

2019   

  • Facebook Data Center Prinville, OR. working in collaboration with glass mosaic artist Gail Christofferson, my design was selected and installed as a mural 14 x 8 feet.

  • Mentor Library Mentor, OH my design was selected and implemented by glass mosaic artist Gail Christofferson

  • Facebook Data Center, New Albany OH, My second design was selected and installed as a 8 X 12 foot mural by glass mosaic artist Gail Christofferson

2018  

  • Facebook Data Center, New Albany, OH, working in collaboration with glass mosaic artist Gail Christofferson, my design was selected and installed as a mural 6 x 14 feet.

  • First Federal Bank, Sylvania, OH, working in collaboration with glass mosaic artist, Gail Christofferson, my design was commissioned and installed as a glass mosaic window treatment

  • First Presbyterian Church in Maumee, OH, working in collaboration with glass mosaic artist, Gail Christofferson, my design is being commissioned and installed as a window hanging 2 x 11 ½ feet

  •  Abe’s Garden Alzheimer Facility, Nashville TN, my design was selected and installed by glass mosaic artist Gail Christofferson as a 3 X 5 foot mural.

  • Maumee Valley Hospital South, Dayton, OH, collaborating with glass mosaic artist Gail Christofferson, and the Dayton Arts Commission, my design was selected and installed as a glass mosaic mural of four panels, 10 x 6 foot each totaling 10 X 24 feet

 2017 

  • Southeast Branch Library, Dayton, OH, collaborating with glass mosaic artist Gail Christofferson, my design was commissioned and installed as a mural 10 X 15 feet

  • Kroger’s Grocery, Waterville, OH, collaborating with glass mosaic artist Gail Christofferson, my design was commissioned and installed as a mural 10 X 19 feet

  •  Washtenaw and Monroe County Youth Centers, YAAW, Ann Arbor & Monroe MI, my designs for Obelisk sculptures, collaborating with glass mosaic artist Gail Christofferson were selected, constructed and installed for the youth centers

 2016 

  • Perrysburg Cancer Center, Perrysburg, OH, collaborating with glass artist Gail Christofferson my design was commissioned and installed as a glass mosaic mural window treatment, 4 panels, 24 x 74 inches each panel

 2015 

  • Lorain Public Library, Lorain, OH, collaborating with glass artist Gail Christofferson, my design was commissioned and implemented as a 5 X 10 foot glass mosaic mural.

  • Dayton Public Library, Kettering Branch, Kettering, OH collaborating with glass artist Gail Christofferson, my design was commissioned and installed as a glass mosaic mural, 6 x 9 feet