About Debra Ann, founder/owner
Debra Ann is a sculptor and kinetic artist, and the creative force behind Atomic Mobiles, a Los Angeles-based studio she founded in 2008. Inspired by the sleek aesthetics of mid century modern design and the rebellion of Dadaism, she creates unique, often one-of-a-kind, art.
A resolute autodidact, Debra Ann has been creating art her entire adult life, developing a multidisciplinary practice that spans sculpture, kinetic mobiles, and design. Her work is highly sought after, with commercial commissions for clients like Benjamin Moore, Kate Spade, Alice + Olivia, and Ralph Lauren.
Her work is present in numerous art collections in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia.
She resides and works in Highland Park in North East Los Angeles (NELA). Her home is filled with an abundance of art, vinyl record albums, vintage Blenko glass, and lots of color.
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The Dada of Mobiles
While it’s interesting that mobiles are considered mid century, and certainly gained popularity as an integral part of the MCM style, the origin of mobiles began in 1930 when Alexander Calder created them, well before the start of the mid century modern era. His friend and dadaist Marcel Duchamp coined the term “mobiles” for his work in 1931 and Hans Arp (dadaist also) described the table top mobiles as "stabiles" and the phrase stuck.
Mobiles function by adding shapes of color and gentle movement - zen calm if you will - to an otherwise blank space. Mobiles add that extra element - movement - that we as humans are drawn to and that we find so very compelling to look at.
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InfluencesDebbie discovered the wild wonderful world of Dada when she was a teenager and it changed her life. With an unwavering insistence of exploring the unusual and intensely creative, she is an artist, underground experimental/noise musician, writer, graphic designer, coder, inventor, and photographer.
Influences Marcel Duchamp, Hans Arp, Sophie Taeuber-Arp, Tristan Tzara, Hannah Hoch, Emmy Hennings, Hugo Ball, Man Ray, and Moholy-Nagy.
Additionally, abstract expressionism, avant-garde, Wayne Husted, Isamu Noguchi, Harry Bertoia, the MCM style aesthetic, and the 1970s sense of color and fun.
RIP Pugaroo 2010 - 2025