Debra Roberson was born and raised in Houston, Texas, but spent her summers and holidays in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Her parents were born on plantations, and she and her siblings are the first generation not to be. After working in IT and retiring from that career, Debra returned to her first love: photography and graphic design. She pursued this passion by earning a degree in Communication Media from Bossier Parish Community College.

Debra also holds a BA from Dartmouth College and an MA from Wheaton College. Influenced by renowned photographers such as Gordon Parks, Dorothea Lange, and Ansel Adams, Debra has been recognized for her work in the field. She participated in Critical Mass 8, 9, and 10, receiving honorable mention in the first two years, before winning the Critical Mass X Critic’s Choice in Visual Arts in February 2022.

In 2022, Debra completed a solo exhibition at Artspace titled “Cane River Chronicles: Unveiled.” She was also selected for the Irene Rosenzweig Exhibition Class of 2023, with her work featured at the Arts and Sciences Center in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, through October 2023. Debra is currently showcasing her art in an exhibition in Fayetteville, North Carolina.