Deming Harriman’s multidisciplinary practice offers a vivid journey through archetypes, esoterica, and psychological landscapes. Rooted in collage but spanning mediums, her work pulls from mythology, folklore, and mysticism to construct layered visual worlds that straddle the symbolic and the surreal. A graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art and currently based in Pennsylvania, Deming has built an expansive career that includes large-scale commissions, public installations, and publication features. In this interview, the artist reflects on transformation, creative resilience, and the quiet power of imagery to hold space for healing and reflection.

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Art is often chosen as a medium for its freedom. Why do you personally turn to art, rather than another form of expression?

I turn to art because it allows me to reinterpret the world on my own terms. Art has always felt like coming home to me. I can process beauty and darkness through play and creativity. Collage especially gives me the ability to reassemble fragments of reality into new narratives, which feels deeply aligned with how I experience and respond to change, transformation, and identity.

Can art be truly therapeutic? Have you experienced its healing power personally, or seen it impact others?

Absolutely. For me, creating is a way to externalize internal emotions and turn them into something tangible and transformative. After relocating from New York to the Leigh Valley, for instance, I used collage to process that transition, my work "Blooming from the Dark" came directly from that space of uncertainty and growth. I’ve also seen how others respond to my work, especially pieces that touch on the esoteric or subconscious. They often share how it makes them feel seen or sparks reflection.

How do you approach criticism, whether from peers, critics, or audiences?

I try to receive criticism as part of a larger conversation. Not all feedback is meant to be absorbed, but it’s always worth listening. Over the years, I’ve learned how to differentiate between critique that’s constructive and critique that’s more about the viewer’s preferences. I stay grounded in my intention, but I try not to get so absorbed in my own vision that there is no more room for growth.

Do you think art that is created for commercial success loses its integrity, or can it still hold meaning?

I don’t believe the two are mutually exclusive. I’ve created several public installations and corporate commissions; some are deeply symbolic, and others are primarily to spark joy and beauty in a space. The key is staying connected to your voice while navigating different platforms or audiences.

What are five things you do to overcome creative blocks or feelings of discouragement?

✧ Go to the studio even when you have no creativity. Sometimes getting over a block means making bad work with no inspiration until things start to click.

 

✧ Make time to connect with nature. Lately I’ve been taking walks with no headphones, just taking in my surroundings.

 

✧ Look through books for inspiration. Rip out pages I find interesting without pressure to use them for anything. 

 

✧ Talk to other creatives; the community is a huge help in continuing to feel connected.

 

✧ Look back at old notebooks. I sketch out tons of untouched projects, sometimes the idea and the timing take a while to connect into reality.

List five moments or achievements in your career that fill you with gratitude.

✧ Being asked to have my work featured in TASCHEN’s Library of Esoterica Astrology book. This is an incredible series, and my work sits next to so many artists whom I admire.

 

✧ Having my Zodiac series commissioned for a public installation at the New York Port Authority Bus Terminal. Showing my work in such a massive way in NYC feels like a huge accomplishment. 

 

✧ Being rewarded my first studio residency with Oolite Arts in Miami FL. That program shaped my career and gave me the foundation I needed to be the artist I am today. 

 

✧My first large scale cooperate project with Royal Caribbean. A huge opportunity and learning experience very early on in my career, discovering print and textile design. This was a career avenue that allowed me to have consistent work while still being creative and feeling fulfilled.

If you could step back into any artistic era, which would it be and why?

I would love to observe the inner workings of the artists who created alchemic illustrations in the 16th century. These works are so obscure and embedded with secret symbolism. I love this part of history, where science was still magical and alchemists blended art and spirituality into their practice.

What are your long-term aspirations as an artist, both personally and professionally?

I am growing my studio practice to where I can take on more large-scale projects throughout the year. I have started licensing my work, creating custom digital art for high-end clients, and allowing the time to invest in myself as an artist and as a businesswoman.

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Whether through fragmented collage or immersive installation, Deming Harriman’s work continues to evolve through curiosity, ritual, and myth-making. With a practice shaped by both introspection and public engagement, her art resists boundaries—balancing intuition with intentionality, ancient archetype with contemporary dream. As Deming looks toward larger-scale projects and deeper forms of creative autonomy, the foundation remains clear: storytelling through image, anchored in personal vision and universal wonder.