Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Rice.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
The short version: I was born. I wasn’t good at much. I was quiet. I discovered the paintbrush.
I was born in Birmingham, Alabama, and moved around with my folks a bit until we ended up in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I started school and English was hard, science was harder, but math, math was the hardest. I’d catch myself daydreaming and getting into trouble for doodling instead of copying down notes or solving division problems. One teacher finally saw something in me. I had painted a wonky boat in watercolors, and she praised me for it like I’d painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
Upon entering middle school, academics only proved to be more difficult. I found that I could pour myself into making art to tune out the ridiculous drama and test failures. By the time high school rolled around, I thought I would suffocate from all of my failures in the academic arena. I learned that I suffered from anxiety and depression, as so many others do. Art acted as therapy for me, and it allowed me to take part in something bigger than myself so that I wouldn’t crush from all of my self-imposed pressure.
I think that’s when I really knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to pursue the arts and to use them as my voice.
I moved to Birmingham and graduated from college with a degree in Art and Spanish. I taught for a couple of years, but have since gone full-time with my practice. I now make art about marginalized communities, offering voices in visual mediums. I’m a visual storyteller, a pretty good listener, an environmentalist, and an artist. I make things, and if I make something with enough care, I call it a good day.
Please tell us about your art.
I’m a multidisciplinary artist. I largely draw and paint using wax crayon, acrylic, house paint, and spray paint. However, I also enjoy utilizing sculptural elements in my installations. The majority of my work focuses on the personal stories of intimate and marginalized communities. My art can be viewed as whimsical and reflective, offering unique perspectives through the lenses of individuals within the South. My work examines what it is like to be a southern woman in contemporary times by exploring ideas of relationships, anxiety, sexuality, gender identity, and race.
At the moment, I am working on a project to help me shift into sustainable and natural methods. I am using materials from the neighborhoods in Birmingham to create work about the different communities and the 99 neighborhoods that exist here.
When viewers interact with my work, I aim to create discussions about communities and personal identities.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing artists today?
I think the biggest challenge for artists today is authentically engaging with viewers. Since social media platforms make the arts immediately accessible, I tend to worry that the messages I want for my viewers are not always received.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I tend to participate in several exhibitions throughout the year. The next show on my calendar is in April at the 21st Street Studios in Birmingham, Alabama. I am always willing to have visitors at my shared studio space in Birmingham, so reach out to me via email at emriceart@gmail.com if you would like to witness it. To purchase art from my store or contact me for commissions, visit: www.emilyriceart.com. If you want to follow along with the process, find me on Instagram: @ricelikethefood or Facebook: Emily rice art.
Contact Info:
- Address: Photography credit for artist portrait:
Charity Ponter
https://charityponterphotography.com/ Title: “Ephemeral casita” - Website: www.emilyriceart.com
- Phone: 4238388093
- Email: emriceart@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ricelikethefood/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emilyriceart/
Image Credit:
Charity Ponter
Jonathan Purvis
Nisha Kashyap
Emily Rice
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