Meet Rebecca Volkmann | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rebecca Volkmann and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rebecca, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk taking has many positive attributes in that it opens up channels that may have been previously closed. Also, it may build a stronger sense of confidence in the person taking the risk because it takes great courage to take risks. When I left my job of twenty plus years in Washington, DC to move to Arizona, I was taking a great leap(and risk) in order to make changes for me and my twelve year old Son. Though, I worked for a wonderful small family firm that had provided me great opportunities for growth within that position, there was a not a lot of room for upward growth outside of that position. All of the twenty years in this job, I had been working on my art in a corner of my efficiency apartment feeling quite “compartmentalized”. Also, I was trying to open art channels in DC that were hard to get into. Though, I had several small solo shows locally and had taken part in many group exhibits, I felt that it was insular and that taking a leap of faith outside of the DC, MD, and VA Beltway was a good move for me. that might provide new connections, relationships, and more growth as an artist and potential educator, I was approached by a New York gallery, and several Italian galleries to take part in group shows. One of the main reasons that this happened is having a social media presence, and also traffic to my art website. Had a stayed in DC and in the situation, I was in, I would never have made these connections. Currently, I am represented by a New York Gallery and online Art Gallery called Art Up Close. I have been invited for a solo show with their physical gallery in 2024. My artwork has travelled to Italy and Spain may times since 2020 and I have also been invited for solo exhibitions in Austria and Spain. I am also showing my work in group exhibitions at the Tubac Center of the Arts in Tubac, AZ. I remain open to new experiences, and especially for the opportunity to travel internationally in the near future with my artwork that has previously proceeded me to other countries. Life is short and taking a risk might provide new avenues previously untraveled.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My work is inspired by dreams, poetry, relationships, and place as a woman and creator. My personal narrative sometimes depicts the interplay between women and men, but most importantly in my view the strength of these women as unique characters. In most cases, each figure that I depict is created intuitively and from my imagination. My work is based in experimentation and is by nature intuitive. My focus is on careful observation and what comes out in the painting itself through color, layering, and texture. The most difficult risk is to not be afraid to work over the original image, yet show remnants of what once lay beneath. The theme of many of these new works is passion, distance and closeness, and loss. I have been investigating the intimate, seductive, and raw energy of love and life. There is life in dreams, intuition, and exploration with the painting process. Throughout this process, I have maintained a love of portraiture whether from life or imagined. While in Arizona the past three years, I have painted portraits of family members from photographic portraits that I have taken of them. However and more, so the intuitive process allows for creation of imagined portraits of strong, female figures.

Instagram: @rebeccaevolkmannartwork
www.rebeccavolkmann.com
beckdozer@gmail.com

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I moved to Tucson in 2019 and more than two thirds of that time until now was quarantine during Covid. I feel that I am just now really exploring the amazing cultural and artistic side of Tucson, I would recommend that all visitors go off the beaten path and do a Mural Tour of the hundreds to see here. One day while doing this with my son and Dad, we came across the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum which is really interesting. Also, visit the museums here like the Tucson Museum of Art, the new Gem and Mineral Museum, the Desert Art Museum, and especially Museum of Contemporary Art. We also love the Tucson Botanical Garden! Food is a huge part of the culture here and there are thousands of Mom and Pop places to try. If you want delicious food and don’t mind venturing out to Vail, Arizona, try Saguaro Corners on Old Spanish Trail. In my neighborhood in North East Tucson, try BZ’s bar and grill which has amazing home made food and is low key. Keep an open mind and try something new here! Bookstores are great here like Antigone Books, Bookman’s, and all of them are in places where you can get a bite to eat, get great coffee nearby, and do some sight seeing. One thing we are learning, is look closely and carefully, some great places hide in odd places here! Visit your local libraries and utilize the parks here in Pima County. Definitely, visit farmers markets and public gardens too.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The biggest. warmest, and loudest shout out goes to my parents and son, Max, for their love and continued support of my art career. I want to thank all of the curators, curatrices, art collectives, colleagues, gallery owners, and clients that believe in my development and growth as an artist.

Website: https://rebeccavolkmann.com/

Instagram: @rebeccaevolkmannartwork

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RebeccaVolkmann

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LiveLoveAchieve

Other: https://www.artupclose.com/rebecca-volkmann https://www.artsy.net/artist/rebecca-volkmann/works-for-sale