Debra Yepa-Pappan facts for kids
Debra Yepa-Pappan is a talented artist who creates digital art, especially using photography and digital collages. Her art is greatly shaped by her unique background. Her mother is from South Korea, and her father is Native American. Because of this, her artwork often explores ideas about who we are, modern life, and common ideas about Native American culture.
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Her Life Story
Debra Yepa-Pappan was born in South Korea. At that time, her father was working there with the U.S. Army. When she was very young, her family moved to Chicago, where she grew up.
In 1992, she went to the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe. There, she earned a degree in art that was both flat (like paintings) and art that had depth (like sculptures). After that, she studied at Columbia College Chicago. She met her husband, Chris Pappan, while they were both at the Institute of American Indian Arts. As of 2017, Debra, Chris, and their daughter live in Chicago.
Her Art Style
Debra Yepa-Pappan's art draws from many different places. She uses traditional images from her Jemez Pueblo heritage and Korean culture. She also gets ideas from Chicago's modern city life and even science fiction.
Her main goal is to make people think about what they believe is real. She tries to challenge unfair ideas about Native American culture. She also wants to help younger generations feel connected to their culture. Debra takes photographs and digital images, then she puts them on top of each other and changes their shapes. This helps her create complex pictures that send strong messages. She uses the differences between her two cultures to talk about living between two worlds. Her art often makes viewers ask questions instead of giving them all the answers.
Important Artworks and Projects
Debra Yepa-Pappan has created many important art pieces and been part of exciting projects.
Art Series and Exhibitions
- I Is for Indians series: This series includes pieces like "Live Long and Prosper (Spock Was a Half Breed)" from 2008 (updated in 2013) and "The Doctor's Companion" from 2014.
- First People, Second City: This was an art show in Bristol, England, at a gallery called Rainmaker in 2014. She also gave talks at The Royal West of England Academy.
- War Baby/Love Child: Mixed Race Asian American Art: This was a book and a group art show. It was shown at the DePaul University Art Museum in Chicago and the Wing Luke Museum in Seattle in 2013.
- Dual(ing) Identities: This was a solo art show just for her. It took place at the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts in Santa Fe in 2012.
Community Work
- She worked as the Program Coordinator for the Title VII Indian Education program at Chicago Public Schools. This program helps Native American students.
