Debra Thompson

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Based in Hawke’s Bay, Debra Thompson is a contemporary mixed media artist known for bold, colourful works that celebrate pop culture and iconic personalities. Living and working in the region, Debra has exhibited solo since 2017, received several awards, and contributed works to institutions such as ToiToi – Hawke’s Bay Arts & Events Centre

Drawing inspiration from Takashi Murakami, Andy Warhol, and the post-impressionists, Debra fuses historical and modern influences to create vibrant, eye-catching pieces that speak to both nostalgia and the present moment.

Portraiture is at the heart of Debra’s practice, with a particular focus on figures who have made a lasting cultural impact—Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Twiggy, Sir Edmund Hillary, and David Attenborough, among others. Working primarily in acrylic on board with occasional touches of spray paint, each painting aims to capture the essence of its subject in a way that feels fresh, expressive, and unexpected.