Arealia (Reba) Painting

For me, creating art is a transformative practice that is necessary for self exploration and acceptance. I am primarily a self-taught artist and I paint because I find it to be enormously therapeutic and rewarding. As a black woman artist, I never want to be stereotyped or put into a box as I will always give myself the freedom to shift my focus between different mediums and subjects, real or abstract. I began oil painting my junior year in college after signing up to spend a semester in Aix-en-Provence, France at the Marchutz School. At that point, I had only dabbled with acrylic paint. I didn’t know the love that I would eventually develop for oil painting. The semester that I spent in Aix was life altering. I felt like a door had opened and I was becoming acquainted with my true self and purpose. At Marchutz, much of the formal studies that we did were based on how to see the world from a painter’s perspective with a particular focus on classical impressionism. Over the next decade I continued to keep my passion for oil painting close. I have taught myself new techniques, moved my studio across the country from Seattle to Chicago, shifted my focus between different genres, dabbled in NFTs, gained representation with the Martin Gallery, exhibited at The Other Art Fair, worked with galleries and clients internationally, received the 35 under 35 Rising Star award from Saatchi Art, elevated my business and made my art collectible by producing limited edition prints. As an artist, I believe I get to build my own path and provide a beautiful experience for others that is both healing, thought provoking.