ARTIST
DESIGNER
LOVER
FIGHTER
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SOUTHIE-BORN
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ARTIST
ABSTRACTION IS FREEDOM.
It's where I go to breathe.
"Each painting begins with openness. Every scrape and smudge, an exhale. There is no plan but to listen, feel, react, and let go."
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 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. Her work is in private collections throughout the US and in Denmark. Recently, she was a featured artist at West Elm LA in Beverly Hills, showcasing her Color Pop series and Tiny TABstracts - a favorite project to date, having painted 100 3” abstracts over 100 days. Her triptych “Take Me With You” is currently on display at SCAA Gallery in Newhall, California. As an experiential self-taught 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. Her work is in private collections throughout the US and in Denmark. Recently, she was a featured artist at West Elm LA in Beverly Hills, showcasing her Color Pop series and Tiny TABstracts - a favorite project to date, having painted 100 3” abstracts over 100 days. Her triptych “Take Me With You” is currently on display at SCAA Gallery in Newhall, California. As an experiential self-taught artist, she continues to develop skills and knowledge through mentorship, community, and online education.
"Femme Apparently" in process
CV // RESUME
PRESS & PUBLICATION
Oct 2023 | SD Voyager Magazine | Interview: "Rising Stars" | here
Aug 2023 | The Signal | Featured story "Ugly Can Be Beautiful" | Solo show spotlight | here
Jul 2023 | The Signal | Press Release "Coming Home" | here
Jan 2023 | Shoutout SoCal | Interview with Patrick Harris | here
Oct 2023 | SD Voyager Magazine | Interview: "Rising Stars" | here
Aug 2023 | The Signal | Featured story "Ugly Can Be Beautiful" | Solo show spotlight | here
Jul 2023 | The Signal | Press Release "Coming Home" | here
Jan 2023 | Shoutout SoCal | Interview with Patrick Harris | here
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
Jul/Aug 2023 | "Coming Home" | 6th Street Gallery | Santa Clarita Artists Association | Newhall, CA
Sept/Oct 2023 | "A Retrospective" | Canyon Theatre Guild Vernon Gallery | Santa Clarita Artists Association | Newhall, CA
Jul/Aug 2023 | "Coming Home" | 6th Street Gallery | Santa Clarita Artists Association | Newhall, CA
Sept/Oct 2023 | "A Retrospective" | Canyon Theatre Guild Vernon Gallery | Santa Clarita Artists Association | Newhall, CA
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Sept/Dec 2023 | "A Season of Discovery" | City of Santa Clarita | Santa Clarita Artists Association | Old Town Newhall Library | Newhall, CA
Mar/Apr 2023 | "Colors of the Rainbow" | 6th Street Gallery | Santa Clarita Artists Association | Newhall, CA
Apr/May 2023 | "Textures of Life" | 6th Street Gallery | Santa Clarita Artists Association | Newhall, CA
Dec 2022 | Santa Clarita International Film Festival | Santa Clarita Artists Association | Newhall, CA
Oct 2022 | "Inside Out" | 6th Street Gallery | Santa Clarita Artists Association | Newhall, CA
Oct 2022 | "A Starry Night" | Henry Mayo Hospital Gala | Santa Clarita Artists Association | The Hyatt Regency | Valencia, CA
Oct 2022 | "Art Weekend Sausalito" | Sausalito Center for the Arts inaugural show | Sausalito, CA
Aug/Sept 2022 | "The Great Outdoors" 6th Street Gallery | Santa Clarita Artists Association | Newhall, CA
Sept/Dec 2023 | "A Season of Discovery" | City of Santa Clarita | Santa Clarita Artists Association | Old Town Newhall Library | Newhall, CA
Mar/Apr 2023 | "Colors of the Rainbow" | 6th Street Gallery | Santa Clarita Artists Association | Newhall, CA
Apr/May 2023 | "Textures of Life" | 6th Street Gallery | Santa Clarita Artists Association | Newhall, CA
Dec 2022 | Santa Clarita International Film Festival | Santa Clarita Artists Association | Newhall, CA
Oct 2022 | "Inside Out" | 6th Street Gallery | Santa Clarita Artists Association | Newhall, CA
Oct 2022 | "A Starry Night" | Henry Mayo Hospital Gala | Santa Clarita Artists Association | The Hyatt Regency | Valencia, CA
Oct 2022 | "Art Weekend Sausalito" | Sausalito Center for the Arts inaugural show | Sausalito, CA
Aug/Sept 2022 | "The Great Outdoors" 6th Street Gallery | Santa Clarita Artists Association | Newhall, CA
FAIRS, FESTIVALS, POPUPS
Apr 2023 | Spring Art Fair | Santa Clarita Artists Association | Le Chene | Santa Clarita, CA
Dec 2022 | Jackalope Art Fair | Burbank, CA
Oct 2022 | Newhall Marketplace | Newhall CA
Aug 2022 | West Elm LA | In-store Artist Feature | Beverly Hills, CA
May 2022 | Burbank Arts Festival | Jackalope Art Fair | Burbank, CA
May 2022 | Spring Art Fair | Santa Clarita Artists Association | Le Chene | Santa Clarita, CA
Apr 2022 | Jackalope Art Fair | Pasadena, CA
Jul 2019 | SCV Summer Art Fair | Santa Clarita, CA
Dec 2017 | RenegadeLA | Spring Art Fair | Pasadena, CA
Apr 2023 | Spring Art Fair | Santa Clarita Artists Association | Le Chene | Santa Clarita, CA
Dec 2022 | Jackalope Art Fair | Burbank, CA
Oct 2022 | Newhall Marketplace | Newhall CA
Aug 2022 | West Elm LA | In-store Artist Feature | Beverly Hills, CA
May 2022 | Burbank Arts Festival | Jackalope Art Fair | Burbank, CA
May 2022 | Spring Art Fair | Santa Clarita Artists Association | Le Chene | Santa Clarita, CA
Apr 2022 | Jackalope Art Fair | Pasadena, CA
Jul 2019 | SCV Summer Art Fair | Santa Clarita, CA
Dec 2017 | RenegadeLA | Spring Art Fair | Pasadena, CA
COLLECTIONS
NBC/Universal | Universal Content Productions, LLC
Private | US and Denmark
NBC/Universal | Universal Content Productions, LLC
Private | US and Denmark