Adjusting
Agrifolia
Winter Wonderland
Rebecca Youssef
Artist Statement
For as long as I can remember, I’ve had my hands in either dirt or paint. The physicality of being a process-based artist and a cultivator of trees from seed is what has sustained and given purpose to my work. I am inspired by wild, untouched lands and carry a deep respect for hand-crafted art. Galvanized by the sustainability movement to protect our planet, my work finds a home in the space where art and environmentalism collide. Whether it’s painting on paper I made by hand or on recycled grocery bags, I tell a story through purposeful materials to stimulate reflection on our reciprocity with nature. My use of homemade inks and papers stand in contrast to the commercially made paints and adhesives I use and symbolize our fractured relationship with the natural world.
As a cultivator of California native oak trees, I was conflicted by my love of working on paper. Repurposing and upcycling items destined for the recycle bin and/or landfill has become the cornerstone of my work. It is my fundamental belief that beautiful things can be made by working with the planet, not taking from it.
Through my commitment to an environmental and creative consciousness, I am guided towards a more sustainable art practice. When I’m not in the studio, my boots are dusty and my hands are deep in soil working to restore native trees in Los Angeles’s urban landscape.
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