Winter Collection at Westover Gallery - Catalog - Page 29
INTRODUCING ART BAG ARTIST
Debra Franses
Debra Franses is a London-based artist known
for her sleek, contemporary resin sculptures,
including her iconic Artbags—luxury handbaginspired works that encapsulate curated objects
symbolising identity, culture, and aspiration. With
a style rooted in modern pop art, Debra’s work
explores themes of self-curation, branding, and
our emotional attachment to material objects.
Raised by an art teacher and a luxury brand
agent, Debra developed a deep interest in the
intersection of fashion, art, and commerce. After
earning a Politics degree from the University of
Manchester and immersing herself in European
culture while living in Spain and Italy, she
returned to the UK in 2001 to study at Central
Saint Martins, where her Artbags concept was
born.
Her practice blends playful provocation with
cultural commentary, incorporating elements
from Chanel bottles to weaponry, reflecting on
everything from consumerism to femininity and
societal values. Debra’s work has been exhibited
globally—from New York and Basel to Milan and
London—and her collectors include Coca-Cola,
Gucci, and the SWMB Museum. She frequently
collaborates with fellow artists and has received
numerous accolades, including the Edward
James Slade West Dean Scholarship.
Debra’s art invites viewers to reflect on what we
carry and why—transforming personal objects
into timeless, tactile relics of modern identity.
