Artists

Debra Walker

Artist-painter, Arts activist, LGBT activist, tenant/housing activist, San Francisco commissioner.

Walker exhibits locally, nationally, and internationally. She is represented locally by George Krevsky Gallery in San Francisco. Her paintings have been commissioned for several performance, dance and arts events in San Francisco. Walker has mounted dozens of solo exhibitions of her work throughout the U.S. Her work has been included in scores of group shows, including one at the Triton Museum in San Jose. Her work is included in the current State Senate exhibit at the California State Capital, and in hundreds or private collections.

Walker's work is narrative, political, stirring - her imagery is: the urban landscape, figurative, social realism. Using mixed media the paintings thrive on texture, composition and a coaxing and pushing of the medium. She lives and works in San Francisco since 1981.

Her community involvement includes:
• Chair of the San Francisco Arts Task Force, current
• Advisory Board member - Creative Arts Charter School, current
• Founding member of the Coalition on jobs, arts and housing (CJAH) and the Artist Eviction Defense Coalition
• Former President of the Harvey Milk Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Democratic Club, San Francisco
• Commissioner - Building Inspection Commission, 2000-2002
• Northern California Vice Chair - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Caucus, California Democratic Party since 2003

Walker has served on the board and as President of the advisory Board to Open Studios San Francisco, is past CEO, board member of Developing Environments, created in 1972 and is one of the city's longest standing artist communities. She also served on the inaugural board of SOUNDSAFE, a non-profit organization formed to promote affordable studio space for Musicians in San Francisco. In addition to working on arts issues, she currently is involved locally on planning/development issues, arts education issues, and is working statewide on arts/education funding, development/planning/affordable housing issues.