Artist Deborah Sisco explores memory and loss in new exhibit

Charleston-based abstract artist Deborah Sisco presented Between the Stillness and Disappearance, a solo exhibition which opened Nov. 1st at the University of South Carolina Beaufort Center for the Arts. The exhibit will remain on view through Dec. 20th, 2025.

The deeply personal collection examines the emotional landscape of Alzheimer’s disease through color, texture, and form. Inspired by her husband’s experience with the illness, Sisco’s work offers what she describes as “a layered encounter with memory, loss, and love.”

The exhibition unfolds across five thematic zones — Prelude to Loss, Disorientation and Loss, Care and Holding On, Interlude, and Vanishing Point — guiding viewers through a visual and emotional narrative. Each work is paired with a short poetic reflection designed to invite contemplation rather than provide interpretation.

Sisco’s signature style blends oil on canvas and wood panels with elements of digital inspiration, sometimes drawn from artificial intelligence imagery. The result, she said, seeks to capture “the shimmer and fragmentation of memory” as it fades and reforms.

Featured works include The Little Things, a tender opening piece displayed in the lobby; Turning Point, which signals transition and reflection; Still Quiet, positioned with a bench to encourage pause; and the title painting, Between the Stillness and Disappearance, which closes the series in what Sisco describes as “a moment of emotional release.”

A companion hardcover book and booklet accompany the exhibit, featuring high-resolution reproductions and selected poetic texts to extend the show’s narrative beyond the gallery.

Sisco earned her bachelor’s degree in studio art with honors from the College of Charleston at age 69 after years as a self-taught painter. Her work has received international recognition, including the Leonardo Da Vinci Contemporary Artist Award and selection among the Top 60 Masters.

The USCB Center for the Arts gallery is free and open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and during performances. More information is available at www.uscbcenterforthearts.com