As an artist, I feel free.

I love a blank canvas and paint with no plan, letting my insides run wild without pressure, expectation, or resolve. I trust myself in this space. It’s where I show up and I AM without overthinking or consequence. It’s untethered expression. I feel safe.

"Femme Apparently" in process

Biography

Tobi Beck (b. 1976) is an American visual artist based in Southern California. Her intuitive abstract paintings, aptly described as “Smudges of her love and guts”, are considered emotional exhales of her always swirling mind. An over-thinker and ADHD neuroatypical, Tobi finds respite in the unique freedom abstraction allows, giving space and release for the raw honesty in her work. Having been born and raised in the projects of South Boston, the gritty textures of the city come through in her grungy marks characterized by memories of brick and ripped stickers on light poles - a moodiness that inspires her abstract style; each scrape and stroke building and tearing away to evoke tension or freedom.

A cathartic new experience for Tobi, smearing paint to paper was wholly intrinsic and marked the start of her artist journey in 2014 - a practice that would carry her through a cancer scare only one year later. This awakening was the catalyst for ending a corporate career in administrative sales to pursue art full time. Tobi’s abstract body of work has grown to include monochromatic graphic paintings, mixed media, collage, and digital medium with a focus on layered geometric compositions that tap into her early experience as a graphic designer.
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Tobi studied Visual Communications at The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles and is a member of the Santa Clarita Artists Association, currently holding position of Gallery Chair for the 2024 season. Her work is in private collections throughout the US and in Denmark. Recently, she was selected to show at The Other Art Fair in Los Angeles for both the spring edition and the 100th fall edition, presented by Saatchi Art. Tobi has also had 7 paintings procured by NBC/Universal for the set of the Peacock television series, "Based on a True Story" and has celebrated her "Coming Home" body of work through a solo exhibition. As an experiential self-taught artist, she continues to develop skills and knowledge through mentorship, community, and online education.

ABSTRACTION IS FREEDOM
​​It's where I go to breathe

Work in progress

In the studio

CV

EXHIBITIONS
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2024
Dark, Odd, & Mysterious, Group Show, SCAA Gallery, Santa Clarita, CA, October
SCAA Art Classic, Group Show, Santa Clarita Artists Association at The Centre, Santa Clarita, CA, September
Color Crush, Group Show, SCAA Gallery, Santa Clarita, CA, August-September


​2023
Season of Discovery, Group Show, Old Town Newhall Library, City of Santa Clarita with SCAA, Santa Clarita, CA September-December
A Retrospective, Solo Show, Vernon Gallery at Canyon Theatre Guild, Santa Clarita, CA, September-October
Coming Home, Solo Show, SCAA Gallery,  Santa Clarita, CA, July-August
Textures of Life, Group Show, SCAA Gallery, Santa Clarita, CA, April-May
Colors of the Rainbow, Group Show, SCAA Gallery, Santa Clarita, CA, March-April

2022
Santa Clarita International Film Festival, Group Show, SCAA Gallery, Santa Clarita, CA, December
Art Weekend Sausalito, Group Show, Sausalito Center for the Arts, Sausalito, CA, October
A Starry Night, Group Show, Henry Mayo Hospital Gala with SCAA, Valencia, CA, October
Inside Out, Group Show, SCAA Gallery, Santa Clarita, CA, October
The Great Outdoors, Group Show, SCAA Gallery, Santa Clarita, CA August-September

FAIRS, FESTIVALS, POPUPS

2024
The Other Art Fair LA, Barker Hangar, Santa Monica, CA, September
The Other Art Fair LA, Barker Hangar, Santa Monica, CA, April

2023
Spring Art Fair, Le Chene with Santa Clarita Artists Association, Santa Clarita, CA, May​

2022
Jackalope Art Fair, Burbank, CA December
Newhall Marketplace, Santa Clarita, CA, October
West Elm LA, In-Store Artist Pop-Up, Beverly Hills, CA, August
Burbank Arts Festival with Jackalope Art Fair, Burbank, CA, May
Spring Art Fair, Le Chene with Santa Clarita Artists Association, Santa Clarita, CA, May​
Jackalope Art Fair, Pasadena, CA April​

2019
SCV Summer Art Fair, Santa Clarita, CA, July
The Sketch Mobile, traveling art fair with The Sketchbook Project: Artists & Fleas, Venice, CA to San Francisco Center for the Book, San Francisco, CA, The Brooklyn Art Library, Brooklyn, NY, September
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2017
​RenegadeLA Spring, Pasadena, CA, December

PRESS & PUBLICATION
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​2024
The Santa Clarita Valley Signal, Color Crush group show feature, August
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2023
Based on a True Story TV Series, Peacock and NBC/Universal, 7 paintings procured for set decoration in main character's home 
SD Voyager, Rising Stars interview with Patrick Harris, October  
The Santa Clarita Valley Signal, Ugly Can Be Beautiful, Coming Home solo show feature, August
Shoutout SoCal, Local Stories interview with Patrick Harris, January 

COLLECTIONS
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NBC/Universal, Universal Content Productions, LLC
​Private, US and Denmark

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
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2025
​​SCAA Gallery Chair, Santa Clarita Artists Association, Santa Clarita, CA, January-December

2024
​​SCAA Gallery Chair, Santa Clarita Artists Association, Santa Clarita, CA, January-December
The VADA Draw, paintings donated to Santa Barbara High School Visual Arts and Design Academy, Santa Barbara, CA, March

2023
​​​​Santa Clarita International Film Festival, live painting during event at Laemmle Theater, Santa Clarita, CA, December
​SCAA Newsletter Editor, Santa Clarita Artists Association, Santa Clarita, CA, January-December
Hart Football Casino Night, painting donated to Hart High School Quarterback Club, Newhall, CA, September
The VADA Draw, painting donated to Santa Barbara High School Visual Arts and Design Academy, Santa Barbara, CA, March

2019
The Sketchbook Project, online collective of submitted sketchbooks, The Brooklyn Art Library, Volume 14, Brooklyn, NY, September