Artist Bio
Rebecca Rivard creates vibrant, multi-layered abstractions that explore what lies beneath visible surfaces, using intricate linear patterns to transform moments of meditation and raw emotion into visual narratives. A graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst (BFA 1998), she expanded her artistic practice through music composition studies at Juilliard's Evening Division (2017-2019). Rivard revitalized her visual art career through a residency at Yellow Studio. Her work has garnered Special Recognition at Carriage Barn Art Center's All Member Show (2024) and exhibitions at Bedford Art Show, Katonah Library, Northern Westchester Hospital, Bethany Arts Community, and Bedford Books. An active leader in Westchester's artistic community, Rivard serves on the Katonah Museum Artists' Association board and teaches workshops at Yellow Studio, emphasizing the transformative power of process-based art.
A portion of all sales on Innerworkingart.com go towards supporting mental health organizations such as the Trevor Project and many more.
Artist Statement
Using acrylic paints and markers on wood panels, canvas, and recycled materials, I create richly layered abstract compositions that uncover hidden depths beneath visible surfaces. I am always searching for what lies within someone or something, what smaller parts comprise the greater whole. Through intricate line work, a signature element in my practice, I develop complex patterns that guide viewers through visual journeys. These detailed linear elements weave throughout my compositions, forming networks that echo natural and internal systems. This exploration of internal structures reveals the intricate patterns of elements shaping our deeper realities.
Each work begins with the surface telling the first chapter of a visual story, whether through the organic patterns in wood grain or an initial landscape of deliberate brushstrokes. Building relationships through color and line, I create layers that intersect to form a fabric of meaning, sometimes seeking harmony, other times embracing contrast. Music consistently infuses my approach, inspiring compositional structures that parallel how composers layer sounds. The immediacy of acrylic allows me to build layers quickly, revisiting and covering previous layers to create depth and visual archaeology that invites exploration beneath the surface.
My current work, embodied in the name Innerworkingart, transforms moments of meditation, intimate thoughts, and raw emotion into textured, vibrant compositions. This creative process mirrors self-examination: uncovering layers, embracing imperfections, and finding beauty in what lies beneath. Through peeling back superficial surfaces to explore core essences, I create spaces where personal reflections become universal connections. Innerworkingart invites viewers to pause and connect with the depth and intricacies of their own inner worlds.