Artist in Residence: Deb Menken

Whether she’s painting colour-drenched florals, rugged landscapes or, more recently, energetic windswept-looking abstracts, Mono artist Deb Menken is chasing a singular visceral response in viewers.

“My main goal is joy,” says Deb, a member of Headwaters Arts and a recipient of the Dufferin Arts Council’s Reed T. Cooper bursary in 2023. She recently held her first solo show at the Alton Mill Arts Centre. Her upbeat canvases burst with cheerful blues, soft greens and multiple shades of white – punctuated by shadows, line drawings and curious details.

An intuitive painter, Deb eschews colours straight from the tube, instead mixing her acrylic shades on the go. She doesn’t fuss about finding the perfect match when she runs out, either. “That’s the beauty of it, all the variation. It all works together.”

To learn more about the artist and upcoming exhibitions, visit her website debmenken.com.