Deborah Ann Horrell

Deborah Ann Horrell
April 18, 1953 - Aug. 24, 2018
After a six-year battle with non-smokers lung cancer, Deborah is now free. She died peacefully in her favorite place – her art studio, with her husband and sister-in-law at her side. During her last several months she and her husband lived in the studio where she continued to make art in preparation for an upcoming show.
Deborah was born in Phoenix, April 18, 1953 to Saul and Mollie Horrell. Her passion for art was nurtured at Camelback High School. She went on to earn a BFA at Arizona State University (1975) and MFA in ceramics at University of Washington (1979). She was an Associate Professor, Department of Art, The Ohio State University (1983-1993). As a ceramic artist she exhibited widely and participated in residencies, workshops and symposiums in Italy, Australia, Japan and throughout the United States.
She married Christopher "Kit" Gillem in 1989. Deborah left her tenured university position to become a full-time studio artist when they moved to Portland in 1993. Deborah and Kit designed and built a studio in the back yard of their home with major help from Kit's brother Mark. Deborah worked on the structure from start to finish. Starting in 1994, this space became her creative sanctuary.
Deborah's participation in the Pilchuck Glass School's visiting artist program in 1994 and a residency at the Bullseye Glass Studio in 1996, permanently changed the trajectory of her career. Her innovative use of the historic Pate de Verre technique to create contemporary cast glass sculpture gained international attention and she was invited to teach at the Pilchuck Glass School, Penland School of Crafts, Bullseye Glass Studio and schools in Scotland, Italy, Portugal and Australia.
Her ceramic and glass work has been exhibited in galleries and museums throughout the country including the American Craft Museum, New York; Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian, Washington DC; Museum of American Glass, New Jersey; the Portland Art Museum, Oregon; and others.
Her laugh, radiant smile and passion for imaginative and creative fashion were a magnet that drew people to her. Her warm, caring and dynamic personality invited lasting friendship. Deborah battled breast cancer in 1978, 2000 and 2004. She demonstrated immense strength, tenacity and dignity during these times. Since 1998, Deborah creatively produced the annual family calendar, titled, "Every Day is a Gift." She lived that maxim fully.
Deborah and Kit's 30 year marriage was a model for many – mutual support, collaboration, compassion, care, respect, affection, love and friendship. Dancing was one of their favorite pastimes. She will be deeply missed by friends and family.
Deborah is survived by her sister, Rae (Rick); her brother, Marc (Jean); her husband, Kit and his family (mother, Carol and stepfather, Elton); siblings, Mark (Elise), Patrick (Beth), Elisabeth (Dave) and Bryn (Greg); and Elton's children, Cindy (Russ), Terri (Jay) and Melvin. She will be missed by aunties, Marge, Lois, Mary, Gloria; and many cousins. She was a favorite auntie to Sara, Gabe, Max, Chuck, Breauna, Gracie, John and Katie.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018, in Portland. For more information and to RSVP please visit www.deborahhorrell.com. In lieu of flowers, Deborah wanted friends to support Blue Sky Gallery, PICA, Third Angle New Music, White Bird Dance or your local arts organizations. Deborah also asked that you keep supporting individual artists by buying their art, attending their performances and nurturing their career.
Please sign the online guest book at www.oregonlive.com/obits