Location: United States
While growing up in Frankfurt, Germany, Back first explored her artistic abilities when she was just 14. At 17, she and her family shifted to the U.S., where her creative calling led her to School of Visual Arts in NYC and where she completed a BFA. A career in graphic design and later web design ensued, culminating in Back running her own Design Firm for many years.
In a quest to discover her own true artistic voice rather than catering to the needs of her design clients, Back found herself craving the feeling for a paintbrush in her hand. It was then that Back remembered: remembered her passion for painting, the emotional connection to the brush, the paint and the canvas, the freedom she felt during moments of true expression. She remembered the delight and ecstasy that ensued from a day in the studio and the sense of accomplishment when her own vision comes to life.
Drawing from current events and personal experiences, Back has a natural desire to tell stories. A composition could be a figure conveying an emotion or moment, a geometrically infused landscape, or the intricate details and beauty of an eye. With her signature style, Back extends the narrative of her composition by including text, photographs, or words.
Back has exhibited at the MvVo AD ART SHOW - OCULUS (NYC), Art Expo NYC, Market Art + Design, Bridgehampton, and Conception Art Show, NYC. She is currently an Artist in Residence at Kunstraum, Brooklyn. She was the sole recipient of the Artist Residency 2022 at Cedar Lakes Estates. Her work is in the private collection of both U.S. and international collectors.
Layers of circles and lines are explored in this series of paintings.
Mixed media & oil on canvas.
In Dreams - 44x16"
Horizon - 40x30"
Space - 24x24"
Size: 14 inches wide x 18 inches high on a gallery style canvas (3/4 inch thick).
This painting was started December 2019 completely unplanned, with just a few circles of extra paint on the canvas while working on another piece. I few days later, I randomly added more dots. A few days after that, I connected the dots with lines. Much to my surprise, a head viewed from the back appeared. I followed my inner voice and added words, more circles, textures and colors. This painting emerged. I call it "Overwhelmed". It was finished at the beginning of Covid Times.
30 inches wide x 30 inches high on a gallery style canvas (1 1/2 inch thick).
Inspired by a video of dancing figures, it is expressing the action of movement and flow.
24 inches wide x 30 inches high on a gallery style canvas (1 1/2 inch thick).
At first I was inspired by the simple beauty of the physical eye and iris. While I was working on it though, I was thinking about the deeper meaning of the eye and what it does. The phrase “I See You” does not only describe the action of seeing, it also implies understanding/acknowledging another person. I decided to juxtapose the visual with those words. In one place however, I changed the words to “Do you see me?”. We focus so much on others, being acknowledged and seen ourselves is often not deemed important, it is a quiet and timid question.
36 inches wide x 36 inches high on a gallery style canvas (1 1/2 inch thick).
This painting was started mid February 2020. The background lets newspaper articles shine through. It is juxtaposed with a pensive and thoughtful silhouette of a woman. I wanted to show how we get bombarded with information on a daily basis and how in one moment we can have all different thoughts and emotions.
8 inches wide x 24 inches high on a gallery style canvas (3/4 inch thick).
12 inches wide x 30 inches high ( each), on a gallery style canvas (2 inch thick). Set of Three.
30 inches wide x 20 inches high on a gallery style canvas (1 1/2 inch thick).
This painting is titled "Reflecting". Reflecting is actually represented twofold. The background texture consists of scripted hand lettering suggesting thinking about the past and the sunglasses (pasted mirror paper) that actually reflects to the viewer and looks forward (into the future).
This year had so many challenges, not only Covid 19. When the systemic racism issue exploded with George Floyds murder, the ensuing protests really rattled me out of my slumber. Not having grown up here in the states, I had to sit up and listen, do more research and educate myself. To me, art is not only about beauty, but also about concept and messages. I was so outraged and upset by the events and protests that unfolded, a vision formed in my mind. I researched images and phrases that I heard/read in the media and juxtaposed them around a woman's face. Her lips are pressed together, her mind is screaming. Her gaze is forward, pensively into the future with worry and maybe some hope too. I really hope you like the resulting painting. Please let me know your thoughts.
This painting was inspired by the poem "Be A Lady They Said" by Camille Rainville.
https://writingsofafuriouswoman.wordpress.com/2017/12/09/be-a-lady-they-said/
When I read this, I had an immediate vision. I researched a woman's face with closed eyes, making sure that the image could not be interpreted sexually. I wanted the words to wash over her, starting small on the top and getting bigger as it comes down on the bottom. I chose colors and textures by experimentation, finally settling on waves and flowing movement.
“Combing Hair (Homage to Degas)”
22 inches wide x 28 inches high on a gallery style canvas (1 1/2 inch thick).
36 inches wide x 36 inches high on a gallery style canvas (1 1/2 inch thick).
A woman's figure crouched and burying her head in her arms. The figure is painted in a loose style using palette knives and brushes in grey, blue and pink tones offset by and aqua colored background.
20 inches wide x 40 inches high on a gallery style canvas (1 1/2 inch thick).
A mother is stepping forward holding a baby in her arms. The figure is painted in a loose style using palette knives and brushes. The background color is aqua and the figure is painted in gentle yellow tones with gold highlights.
20 inches wide x 40 inches high on a gallery style canvas (1 1/2 inch thick).
20 inches wide x 40 inches high on a gallery style canvas (1 1/2 inch thick).
“In Dreams ”
“Horizon”
“Space”
“Overwhelmed”
“The Kiss”
“Dancers”
“I See You”
“I Think Therefore I am”
“Slumber”
“I am Woman”
“Reflecting”
“Keep Breathing”
“Be A Lady”
“Love Remembered”
“Safe”
“Moving On”
“Stillness”
