Deborah Simon - Animalistic Abstraction

In this episode of NeedleXChange, I interview Deborah Simon. Deborah is a Brooklyn-based sculptor and embroiderer known for her hauntingly beautiful bears and rabbits that blend faux fur, taxidermy and anatomy.We talk about her early influences, how she went from painting to sculpture, and why she’s so fascinated by the tension between the cuddly teddy bear and the deadly wild bear - plus how camping trips and natural history books shaped her work.Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction00:01:30 – Introduction to Artistic Inspirations & Early Influences00:04:12 – The Evolution from Drawing Animals to Sculpting Them00:06:54 – Blending Art and Science — Anatomy Meets Embroidery00:09:44 – Historical Anatomy Illustrations as Creative Reference00:12:38 – The Role of Nature and Camping in Choosing Animal Subjects00:15:22 – Developing the Bear Series — Teddy Bears vs. Trophy Bears00:18:09 – Exploring the Idea of Charismatic Megafauna00:20:50 – Cultural Reflections — How We See Wild Animals00:23:37 – Art School Experiences and Early Influences00:26:31 – Balancing Overthinking with Staying Creative00:36:02 – Knowing When a Piece is Finished & Letting Go00:36:54 – Shifting to Rabbits and Transparent Bodies00:37:50 – Learning Embroidery and Mixing Needlework with Sculpture00:40:07 – Pushing Back on Gender Norms in Textile ArtLinks:Website: deborahsimon.netInstagram: deborahasimonIntro music is Looking Like Me 1 by David Björk via Epidemic Sound.About NeedleXChange:NeedleXChange is a conversation podcast with embroidery and textile artists, exploring their process and practice.Hosted by Jamie "Mr X Stitch" Chalmers, it is an in-depth showcase of the best needlework artists on the planet.Visit the NeedleXChange website: https://www.needl.exchange/Sign up for the NeedleXChange Newsletter here: https://bit.ly/NeedleXChangeNewsIf you want embroidery inspiration and regular doses of textile art, visit the Mr X Stitch site here: https://www.mrxstitch.com And follow Mr X Stitch on all the usual social media channels!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MrXStitchInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/MrXStitchPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mrxstitch/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjamiechalmers