DEBORAH MITCHELL: CONSERVATION ARTIST
Born in 1965 in Toronto, Canada, Deborah Mitchell hails from Scottish immigrant parents. Currently residing and operating in Miami Beach, Florida, she has established her life and artistic practice in the vibrant city. Mitchell's passion for environmental exploration is deeply rooted in her certification as a Master Naturalist from the esteemed University of Florida. This educational background ignites her unquenchable thirst for knowledge and understanding of the natural world. Through immersive fieldwork experiences, Mitchell gathers invaluable observations that serve as the catalyst for her creative process. Transitioning from photography, her primary medium, she skillfully transforms her captured moments into captivating collages, employing elements such as paint, fabric, and installations. The culmination of her experience-based approach breathes life into her evocative artistic creations.
Statement
Since childhood, I have felt a deep, empathetic connection to the greater Everglades—a landscape as vital as it is contested. Through immersive residencies, I have explored these environments firsthand, creating science-based photo collages that bridge art and data, aesthetics and ecology. Recently, I have incorporated local textiles and community sites into my photographs, grounding my work in shared experience and place.
Collaboration lies at the heart of my practice. Working alongside research institutions, Indigenous communities, biologists, advocacy groups, and National Park staff has expanded my understanding of ecological and cultural histories. These relationships inform artworks that merge scientific insight with personal observation, offering layered perspectives on conservation and belonging.
In 2024, my research extended to Europe, connecting the waterscapes of Venice and South Florida. Collecting fabrics and stories from each region, I weave them into photographs and video installations that explore the intertwined narratives of displacement, climate change, and biodiversity loss.
My multidisciplinary practice—spanning video, photography, textiles, painting, and drawing—invites thoughtful reflection on our shared responsibility toward fragile ecosystems. Through projects such as my video now on view at the Venice Biennale of Architecture, I strive to inspire mindful coexistence with the natural world.
Photo by Dustin Angell Photography for the Florida Stewards Project