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.
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 2026 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 as a five-time exhibitor, 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", was a featured in-store artist at West Elm in Beverly Hills, and has celebrated her "Coming Home" body of work through a solo exhibition. As an experiential self-taught and self-represented artist, she continues to develop skills and knowledge through mentorship, community, and online education.
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.
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 2026 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 as a five-time exhibitor, 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", was a featured in-store artist at West Elm in Beverly Hills, and has celebrated her "Coming Home" body of work through a solo exhibition. As an experiential self-taught and self-represented 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
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In the studio
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CV
EXHIBITIONS
2026
Art Soup, Group Show, SCAA Gallery, Santa Clarita, CA, January-February
2025
HighWire, Group Show, SCAA Gallery, Santa Clarita, CA, October-November
SCAA Art Classic, Group Show, Santa Clarita Artists Association at The Centre, Santa Clarita, CA, September
Abstracted, Group Show, SCAA Gallery, Santa Clarita, CA, August-September
Black & White, Group Show, SCAA Gallery, Santa Clarita, CA, June-July
Ashes to Art, Coyote Studios, Los Angeles, CA, June
Things With Wings, Group Show, SCAA Gallery, Santa Clarita, CA, April-May
Signature You, Group Show, SCAA Gallery, Santa Clarita, CA, January-February
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
2026
Art Soup, Group Show, SCAA Gallery, Santa Clarita, CA, January-February
2025
HighWire, Group Show, SCAA Gallery, Santa Clarita, CA, October-November
SCAA Art Classic, Group Show, Santa Clarita Artists Association at The Centre, Santa Clarita, CA, September
Abstracted, Group Show, SCAA Gallery, Santa Clarita, CA, August-September
Black & White, Group Show, SCAA Gallery, Santa Clarita, CA, June-July
Ashes to Art, Coyote Studios, Los Angeles, CA, June
Things With Wings, Group Show, SCAA Gallery, Santa Clarita, CA, April-May
Signature You, Group Show, SCAA Gallery, Santa Clarita, CA, January-February
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
COMPETITIONS
2025
SCAA Art Classic, Santa Clarita Artists Association, Santa Clarita, CA, September - 2nd Place Winner, Mixed Media
2025
SCAA Art Classic, Santa Clarita Artists Association, Santa Clarita, CA, September - 2nd Place Winner, Mixed Media
FAIRS, FESTIVALS, POPUPS
2026
The Other Art Fair LA, 3Labs, Culver City, CA, February
2025
OTNA Festival, Newhall, CA, September
The Other Art Fair LA, Barker Hangar, Santa Monica, CA, September
Anything Goes, SCAA Gallery, Newhall, CA, June
OTN Art Walk, Newhall, CA, May
The Other Art Fair LA, Los Angeles, CA, February
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
2017
RenegadeLA Spring, Pasadena, CA, December
2026
The Other Art Fair LA, 3Labs, Culver City, CA, February
2025
OTNA Festival, Newhall, CA, September
The Other Art Fair LA, Barker Hangar, Santa Monica, CA, September
Anything Goes, SCAA Gallery, Newhall, CA, June
OTN Art Walk, Newhall, CA, May
The Other Art Fair LA, Los Angeles, CA, February
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
2017
RenegadeLA Spring, Pasadena, CA, December
PRESS & PUBLICATION
2024
The Santa Clarita Valley Signal, Color Crush group show feature, August
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
2024
The Santa Clarita Valley Signal, Color Crush group show feature, August
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
NBC/Universal, Universal Content Productions, LLC
Private, US and Denmark
NBC/Universal, Universal Content Productions, LLC
Private, US and Denmark
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
2026
The VADA Draw, paintings donated to Santa Barbara High School Visual Arts and Design Academy, Santa Barbara, CA, March
HOPE Theatre Balls of Fire Fun-raiser painted bowling pin, Santa Clarita, CA, February
SCAA Gallery Chair, Santa Clarita Artists Association, Santa Clarita, CA, January-December
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
2026
The VADA Draw, paintings donated to Santa Barbara High School Visual Arts and Design Academy, Santa Barbara, CA, March
HOPE Theatre Balls of Fire Fun-raiser painted bowling pin, Santa Clarita, CA, February
SCAA Gallery Chair, Santa Clarita Artists Association, Santa Clarita, CA, January-December
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