STOCKBRIDGE, MASS.- Norman Rockwell Museum is presenting Shine a Light: The Art and Life of Deb Koffman, a featured installation celebrating the artistry, life, and mindful spirit of Berkshire-based artist and author Deb Koffman (1956–2021). Known for her bold, text-infused paintings, illustrations, and books, Koffman created vibrant works that blend humor, hope, and honesty—providing practical tools for self-kindness, resilience, and reflection.
Shine a Light: The Art and Life of Deb Koffman, is on view from November 8, 2025 through June 8, 2026, and offers visitors an intimate glimpse into her creative world. The installation at the Museum includes a selection of her colorful works on paper, text-based installation pieces, finished, stand-alone works of art, and studies for Koffman’s popular books like Soul Support, The Magic Lamp, and The Blank Space. Her books tell metaphorical stories about belief, self-support, and positivity in an accessible style that borrows from cartoon and illustration history. Koffman’s art invites viewers to slow down, take a deep breath, and reconnect with their own inner voice.
“A champion of creativity and compassion, Deb Koffman created art that speaks to the heart,” said Laurie Norton Moffatt, Director/CEO of Norman Rockwell Museum. “The abundance of love expressed in Deb’s work, her message of radical self-acceptance, and her art of reframing any situation to see hope and opportunity live on in her art and books. We are honored to steward her work and share her message with visitors from around the world.”
Koffman’s artistic journey was deeply shaped by her move to the Berkshires in 1988. “When I moved here, I didn’t know a thing about spirituality or feelings or healing or art,” she once reflected. “I was deeply unhappy and confused about life. By chance, and grace, I discovered Kripalu, Gurudev, yoga, and an amazing community of body-centered healers. My whole world changed. Making art has saved my life and kept me sane, by helping me literally to SEE what goes on in my mind.”
In addition to her art, Koffman fostered creativity and connection through her Housatonic, MA studio and gallery. It became a hub for mindfulness workshops, creativity circles, performances, and community dialogue. As writer Hannah Van Sickle noted in The Berkshire Edge, Koffman’s open-door ethos “offered a safe harbor for artists and seekers alike, a place where vulnerability and imagination could coexist.”
Deb Koffman (1956–2021) was an artist, author, and mindfulness advocate whose vibrant, text-based works combined wit, compassion, and visual warmth. Born in Binghamton, New York, she settled in the Berkshires in 1988—a move that marked a turning point in her life and creative practice. She exhibited widely and authored celebrated books such as The Blank Page and Soul Support—that invite readers to embrace creativity as a tool for well-being. She opened a studio and gallery in Housatonic, MA, which became a beloved community hub for personal growth and artistic exploration. Her legacy endures in the hearts of those she inspired to live with authenticity, courage, and compassion
