I had the pleasure of speaking with Rebecca and discovering what has shaped her into the artist she is today. She openly shared her creative journey and the various paths that led to her evolution as an artist.
Based in Fairfield, CT, Rebecca Stern
graduated with honors from Lesley University College of Art and Design in 2009. Over the past decade, her work has been featured in numerous private collections and exhibitions in solo and group shows across the U.S. Using acrylic paint, collage, thread and drawing materials, Rebecca creates abstract pieces she describes as "mental landscapes," exploring the complexities of the mind.
I always wanted to do something creative, but being an artist (and a painter no less) came to me a bit later in life. I went to community college in San Francisco and took the required art credit (I was a psychology major), and ended up falling in love with working with my hands. Making something out of nothing was intoxicating. I never felt like I was good at drawing or painting, so I ended up getting really involved in their dark room photography program. This led me to seek out art school, where I ultimately ended up becoming a photography major at Lesley University in Boston. During my time there I did everything I could to not be behind the camera. My work was focused on self portraiture through alternative process photography, printmaking, installation, and performance art.
After a really transformative event in my late 20's I felt like I needed a tactile medium to express how I was feeling and the changes I was going through, so I started painting. I spent a lot of time exploring, experimenting, and reacquainting myself with the principles of art and design and how I could implement them in an abstract sense. At that time I was doing a lot of yoga and was tapping into the power of the mind and the connection to self. I started creating these mental landscapes with paint, and I felt like I had come home; I had landed on something that felt aligned with my soul for the first time in my artistic career. From there it became an obsession and just grew. I began making handmade brushes and incorporating those into my work. More recently I began sculpting with canvas which has brought in a new element to my work which has pushed my practice both technically and conceptually. I have had the opportunity to work on some really large scale sculpted canvas commissions including one with Liz Lidgett Gallery.
Finding my own creative voice and style has been quite challenging. I think with social media we are constantly exposed to so much content, specifically art content and other artists, that it's easy to get caught up in that. Whether it's comparison, or other artists' work influencing my own, it has been (and is still) a journey to stay true to my own artistic vision.
About 10 years ago I decided I wanted to be a full time artist and sell my work for a living. It was only about 4 years ago that I was actually able to do that. After art school I decided to become an art teacher which I ended up enjoying far less than I anticipated. This motivated me to focus not only on my studio practice, but building a network of people to help support and share my work. It was a long and glorious 6 years where I taught during the day and spent hours in the studio in the afternoon and evening. After having my son in 2020, I decided to take the plunge and leave teaching. Ever since I made that shift, my work and career have grown. But I still pinch myself every time I'm able to say that I'm an artist for a living, it's truly a dream come true.
Want to see Rebecca's work in person? She will be one of five artists participating in our December 6th, Abstract Expressionist Show. Mark your calendars and join
Rebecca Stern's Presale List
to be the first to know of her new releases!
