Artist: Robin Reva (she/her)

Titles: White Water
Carlsbad Overlook
Patterned Persia
Partner Up
Down South
Abandoned 
 

Artist Statement:

In Carlsbad Overlook  I explore the emotional resonance of an ocean bluff by using muted tones and large gestural acrylic strokes. Every time I drove by this spot it was vacant of people, so bare except for a solitary tree and a bench—I was drawn to the quiet tension between exposure and shelter. The scene’s minimalism offered a powerful metaphor for solitude, and also led me to try to capture the movement of wind and the stillness of reflection. Simplicity in form can still evoke complexity in feeling.
 

Patterned Persia is a textured piece in acrylic built up with layers of muted bronze and brown tones, accented by hints of red and yellow for contrast. These colors and textures are inspired by the natural materials of ancient Persia—mud brick, clay, and limestone—and aim to evoke a sense of place and history.
 

The layered surface reflects the complexity of Persian cultural patterns, which, though faded over time, still carry a quiet intricacy. This work invites viewers to consider the beauty found in aged surfaces and the stories they continue to tell.
 

Partner Up is a 6" x 6" encaustic painting that captures the fleeting essence of a breezy summer day. Depicting two Adirondack chairs on a dock, the composition is intentionally rough and loosely rendered to evoke movement and spontaneity—like wind brushing across water and sun-warmed wood. The textured surface helps the viewer feel the rhythm of summer, relaxed yet untamed.
 

Down South is a cell phone photograph taken in rural South Carolina, where I’m drawn to the quiet poetry of back roads and forgotten corners of small towns. I seek out the places time has weathered—decrepit houses with broken porches, tangled vines, and dry leaves—because they hold a kind of romance and mystery that pristine scenes cannot. For me, the beauty lies in the imperfections; if the decay were stripped away, the image would lose its soul. This work reflects my fascination with the emotional texture of place, and how memory and imagination fill in the gaps left by time.

Abandoned is a black and white cell phone photograph taken in the haunting landscape surrounding the Salton Sea in Southern California. Once a vibrant vacation destination, the area now stands in stark contrast to its past—its silence broken only by the remnants of decay. I was drawn to this space not for its loss, but for its transformation into an artist’s dream: vast, surreal, and visually compelling. Through this image, I explore the desolation. The absence of skiers, vacationers, and bustling restaurants is palpable, replaced by dead fish, broken structures, and a sense of forgotten promise. The Salton Sea no longer offers joy, but it offers truth—and that, too, is worth capturing.

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Contact:

Website: http://robinreva.redbubble.com/