ARTIST STATEMENT
My painting practice explores the intricacies of female relationships, often through our connection with nature and the physical world. Both meaningful female friendships and engaging with nature nourish my sense of connection to life. Memory also appears as a central motif in my work’s content and process as I scan my past for the people and moments that have shaped me. Reflecting on distant memories, relationships, feelings as sole references for a painting results in a strange dichotomy between a visual articulation of the cherished and the neglected spaces of the forgettable. These types of self reflective research and art making processes have helped me identify childhood and young adult female bonds as being the some of the most important and valuable connections. Emily, West Virginia is inspired by a road-trip to WV in the summer of 2023. Initially used as a way to disconnect and find relief from the pressures of daily life and the studio, our trips have become an integral step in my process. Using memory as a primary reference, loyalty to life becomes secondary to the emotional experience.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Bekah Baker is a multi-disciplinary artist working within the themes of feminine tradition, the natural world, and material exploration. Originally from Los Angeles, CA, she has had the pleasure of living, working, and studying in Chicago, IL since 2018. When not working at Woman Made Gallery and Carlson Tower Gallery, Bekah is busy pursing a degree in Curatorial Studies, a minor in Chemistry, and a Certificate in Nonprofit Arts Management at North Park University. Additionally, she is a Student Committee Member at the Renaissance Society, the Graphic Designer for VISTA Magazine, and freelances as a Costume and Scenic Designer for Chicago’s small theater productions. She is the recipient of several awards including the Student Lincoln Laureate, North Park’s Art Scholarship, Scholastic Art & Writing Award, is a California Arts Scholar, and has received recognition from the California State Assembly and the City of Los Angeles. Her work has been exhibited in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Santa Clarita and exists in several private collections.
© Bekah Baker