Since 1995, Debra has shown her work in more than thirty exhibitions, including seven solo shows. Her works have been exhibited on a local, regional, and national level. She has been awarded five individual artist grants from the Kentucky Foundation for Women, as well as two fellowships to the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. In 2003, she was a resident at the Vermont Studio Center. Debra also was invited to participate in the 8-hour Drawing project at Allegheny College. Debra has received several summer faculty fellowships in support of her research in painting from Indiana University Southeast.

Debra is a national affiliate member of the SOHO20 Gallery in New York. In addition, she is a member of PYRO contemporary artists cooperative gallery in Louisville, Kentucky.

Debra grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and currently lives in Louisville, Kentucky. Her email address is: dclem@ius.edu