Press Release, November 24, 2011:

Stedman Graham, Founder of AAD presented a sculpture-on-canvas by museum-collected sculptor Debra Hand to world renowned New York Yankee pitcher CC Sabathia at the Metropolitan Club. 

Press Release, June 14, 2011:

On behalf of President Barack Obama, US Assistant Attorney General, Dr. James Galloway made an apperance at the Real Men Charities, Inc.'s annual Real Men Cook celebration to accept a sculpture-on-canvas created by sculptor Debra Hand for  President Barack Obama who was chosen as "Father of the Year"  by the organization.  The presentation was arranged by the White House and Yvette Moyo-Gillard, a principal founder of the organization. 

Press Release, June 11, 2011

International President of  Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. was in town on June 11th for the unveiling and presentation of a sculpture-on-canvas by Debra Hand.  The work-of-art was presented before an esteemed audience of 1,000 guests, during the UNCF's Black&White Ball which also celebrated the legacy of AKA, with its membership of 250,000 of America's most prominent women, including the first lady, Michelle Obama. Governor Pat Quinn served as Honorary Co-Chair of the event, with James H Wooten, Jr., Senior Vice President of ITW, serving as gala Chairman.   

"The ability for humans to perceive beauty is a profound gift.  Without the ability to perceive beauty -- or create it through the arts -- human existence would be reduced to nothing more than a mundane task to survive.  The intake of beauty through our senses provides restoration and balance to our souls.  It links us to our spiritual depths and fills us with emotions that can only be rivaled by the sensation of love itself."   Debra Hand (2004)

Debra Hand is an award-winning, international sculptor and painter whose work graces some of the nation's most prominent fine art collections. Her original works are preserved in world-class institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and the DuSable Museum in Chicago.  Works by Debra Hand were recently featured at the Museum of Science & Industry as part of its annual exhibit of prominent African -American artists and its tribute to international "Black Creativity."   

Debra Hand was first discovered by the legendary artist and DuSable Museum founder, Dr. Margaret Burroughs, who personally arranged for her first public exhibit.  Since then, Debra Hand has become one of the most commissioned female sculptors in Chicago when it comes to honoring historically significant Americans.  Among the list of history makers who own her sculptures are: President Barack Obama; Dr. Winnie Mandela; Anna Roosevelt (Granddaughter of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt); Senior White House Advisor Valerie Jarrett; Dr. Maya Angelou; Oprah; Astronaut - Dr. Mae Jemison; Bill Cosby; Harry Belafonte; Cicely Tyson; Deloris Jordan; Stedman Graham; Kenneth 'Baby Face' Edmonds; Seal; Tavis Smiley; Sinbad; LL Cool J; Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura of Star Trek fame); Branford Marsalis, Jazz Great and former "Tonight Show" band leader; and Dr. Margaret Burroughs who first introduced Hand to the fine arts' community by inviting Hand to join her onstage during Burroughs' own historic retrospective exhibit "A Lifetime of Art."  

Other historically significant artists have been deeply moved by Hand's talent.  In 2010 Hand was commissioned to create a work-of-art tfor the legendary sculptor Richard Hunt -- the sculptor who has created the largest collection of public sculpture of any artist in the nation.  The sculpture was commissioned for him by the UNCF who unveiled and presented tthe work-of-art to Hunt during the Black & White Ball.  The touching moment, which left Hunt stammering over his words, was shared by 1,000 high profile guests.  In Hunt's own words, he was "stunned by the beauty of Hand's work...completely lost for words."  When the UNCF decided to honor Merri Dee, they not only commissioned Debra Hand to create a work-of-art for her, but also, the legendary singer Nancy Wilson flew to Chicago especially to unveil and present the piece to her close friend.  Hand was also commissioned by the SSCAC, during their 70th Anniversary celebration, to create works-of-art to present to Dr. Margaret Burroughs and to Anne Roosevelt in honor of  her family's contribution to the arts' center that President Franklin Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt had been highly instrumental in helping to open.   

Debra Hand was commissioned by Dwyane Wade and Tragil Wade to create a work-of-art in celebration of their mother, Pastor Jolinda Wade.  The work was unveiled by Debra Hand and presented by Dwyane and Tragil Wade.  Hand was also commissioned by Common and the Common Ground Foundation. 

In 2008, the Chicago Defender newspaper named Debra Hand as one of their "Top Fifty Women of Excellence."  Hand has been honored with the coveted "Visual Artist of the Year" award from the African American Arts Alliance and is anuually featured in the publication "Who's Who in Black Chicago."  Her work was also featured during the Ebony Fashion Fair's historic 50th Anniversary show.    In 2009, the jazz legend Geraldine de Haas personally selected Debra Hand to create the official image for the milestone concert season of Jazz Unites.  An image of the original painting was used on all 2009 collectibles of Jazz Unites including black-tie gala program covers, concert programs, stage banners, city banners, and t-shirts.  Geraldine de Haas also chose Debra Hand to create the organization's annual "We Love You Madly" Award which has been bestowed on jazz greats such as Dr. Billy Taylor, James Moody and legendary drummer, Roy Haynes.  Hand was commissioned by Sandra Finley - President of the League of Black Women - to create their annual Black Rose Award which has been presented to such luminaries as Rachel Robinson, wife of the late baseball legend, Jackie Robinson, and also the founder of the Jackie Robinson Foundation.  The work was unveiled and presented to her by her daughter, Tragil Wade, and her son, Dwyane Wade, on behalf of all of the Wade children. 

Throughout her career, Debra Hand has completed several projects for the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra -- the organization she credits with inspiring her stringed instrument collection by giving her a real violin and challenging her to use it as a canvas upon which to create a work of art..  Hand's stringed instruments are now preserved in major museum collections

Hand's work has been exhibited in the Sculptural Objects Functional Art (SOFA) Show, an internationally acclaimed world class exhibit that showcases the best artists, worldwide.  She has also been represented by prominent gallerists in Argentina and the United States.  Her rise to prominence has been featured by Harry Porterfield of WLS - ABC 7 on his Emmy award winning segment "Someone You Should Know" and featured in the Emmy award winning documentary "Curators of Culture" produced by Rita Coburn Whack. Sculptures by Debra Hand have been showcased in numerous publications such as: Homes of Color, Jet Magazine, Sculptural Objects Functional Art catalogue 2007, African Art: the Diaspora and Beyond by Daniel Texidore Parker, and "The Art of Culture" catalog published by Africa International House.

She has exhibited sculptures and paintings in many prestigious locations including The  Museum of Science and Industry, The African-American Military Museum, The DuSable Museum, The Chicago Navy Pier, The Metropolitan Club, The Plaza Club, US Cellular Field, the Trump International Tower, and the Biltmore Hotel in Arizona. 

Debra Hand is a world class sculptor whose prominence is evidenced by the growing list of aficionados who covet her work.  Industry presidents and leaders who own her sculptures include Chris Gardner - CEO of Gardner Rich whose life story was made into the movie "Pursuit of Happyness" starring Will Smith; Donzell & Alisa Starks - Founders and Owners of ICE Theaters who made a historic forty million dollar investment in inner city movie theater complexes; Herb Kent - Guinness Book of World Records Inductee and renowned radio personality; Senator Emil Jones, Jr. - Former President of the Illinois Senate and early Obama mentor; Frank Clark, Chairman & CEO of ComEd; Melody Spann-Cooper, President of WVON Radio; Cheryle Jackson, former President of the Chicago Urban League; Mike Roberts, former President of McDonald's USA; Frances Jones, former President of the National Black McDonalds Operators Association; Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole,  former President of Spellman College and Bennett College; Merri Dee, President of AARP/Illinois; Dr. Will Horton, Author of The 30 Power Principles; Barbara Bowles, former CEO Kenwood Group; Dr. Carol Adams, President of the DuSable Museum; Abena Joan Brown, President of Eta Creative Arts Foundation; Joan Gray, President Muntu Dance Theater; Don Jackson, CEO of Central City Productions and wife, Rose Jackson; Eugene Morris, President and CEO of E Morris Communications; Diane Carr, President of South Side Community Arts Center; Barbara Bates, CEO and President of Bates Designs; Leigh Jones, CEO of Leigh Jones Coiffures; Clyde Hammond - President of Summit Labs; Curtis Jones, CEO of Green Velvet Records, and wife, Paula Jones; Attorney Gregory Wilson and Leanna Flowers-Wilson, Chairperson Muntu Dance Theater; Kym and Darryl Hubbard, well respected finance leaders; Teesee Hooks, legendary Chicago Defender Newspaper columnist; Cheryl Burton, Emmy Award winning journalist at WLS - ABC News; Radio Executive Abe Thompson and new bride, Angela; Pastor Jolinda Wade - Author of "Grace Behind the Walls" and Founder of Temple of Praise Ministry; and Percy and Yasmin Bates-Brown, former VP at Harris Bank. 

From dancers to musicians to portraits of dignity, the exquisite works of Debra Hand are inextricably linked by a narrative of characters that show us humanity at its finest -- the individual immersed in determination and self actualization -- processes through which one might find his or her full potentiality and become a greater contributor to humanity.  Through her work, Hand shares a subtle, but profound, message of humanity, hope and triumph. 

Debra Hand has a Master of Science Degree from the Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.