Artist Statement

Lines of dialogue, lines from films, lines from books — out of context — become pure poetry. Language breaks down, becoming something new. I really can’t help but make lists of lines. Maybe my early work in advertising, where I had only 30 seconds to communicate an idea, a sales pitch, had something to do with this — every word mattered, and it still does.

There is also something about being a woman - and making art. Looking at male-female stereotypes, in media, culture, and in life. Breaking these cliches apart creates “a crack where the light gets in,” to paraphrase Leonard Cohen.

I work improvisationally, allowing the materials and the language to inform me. Viola Spolin’s (the mother of Improvisation Game Theater) tenant of “follow the follower” leads me to the creation of something that surprises me.

Deb Lacusta is an artist, filmmaker, and writer. Using language as a medium, she re-contextualizes meaning in relation to images/materials from popular culture and the urban environment. Using her extensive background in theater and improvisation, her video performances critique Hollywood and media, while at the same time sincerely embracing their cliches.

Her video performance work has been seen at the UCLA Hammer Museum, MOCA North Miami, P.S.1 MOMA New York, Art Basel Miami Beach, Vendanta Gallery Chicago, Bart Wells Institute London, and Deitch Projects New York.

Born in Detroit, Deb received her MFA from Art Center College of Design, BFA from Otis College of Art, and BGS from the University of Michigan. In Chicago, Deb worked as a Copywriter/ Producer for the advertising firms Foote Cone & Belding and DMB&B. She has written for theater and television, most notably for “The Simpsons.”

Meet Deb

For all inquiries, please reach out to: info@deblacusta.com