Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Leibman

Hi Rachel, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?

I am a San Francisco based mixed media and textile artist. My art journey started when I was a small child. I spent hours drawing every day and my parents enrolled me in art classes outside of school. But in my late teens, I had a crisis of confidence and decided, like so many others, that I wasn’t good enough. It took many more years and having a child of my own before I realized that I could be, and was meant to be, an artist.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

It wasn’t easy to consider myself an artist. I didn’t have an MFA or any kind of resume. But once I embraced this calling and realized that this was what I was intended to do, I worked very hard and didn’t waver in my dedication. I took my job very seriously and insisted that others did too. Small, and then larger, successes came. I was proud of the art I was making. Because I had spent so many years working at a well-paying job, it wasn’t necessary for me to make money with my art. This gave, and continues to give, me a lot of freedom to explore my art in a very open and creative way. Of course I’ve had disappointments and have had trouble breaking into areas where the traditional art path is revered. But mostly I’ve been surprised by how easily I’ve been accepted into the art world.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?

I don’t think my art fits neatly into any category. I create tapestries and sculptures from everyday objects such as vintage watch parts, safety pins, violin strings, circuit boards, telephone cables, and metal hardware. Working with such source materials allows me to engage in a dialog with the past, weaving together memories, histories and experiences. I collect materials that intrigue me, and often keep them for several years before deciding how to best incorporate them into my art. Then through the process of selection, deconstruction, and reconstruction, I try to breathe new life into these materials, allowing them to transcend their original purpose and provide an additional layer of meaning.

Even though I am sincerely inspired and awed by the fiber art from different cultures around the world, I don’t ever try to copy it. I am not interested in replicating Amish quilts or becoming an expert in traditional Japanese indigo dyeing techniques. For me, the fun part of art making is letting my imagination run wild and constantly coming up with new ideas. I believe that creative conceptualization is what separates art from craft. I want my work to tell a unique and intriguing story, a story of my choosing. Even though my art pays homage to the past, I consider it to be wholly contemporary and global.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?

In my younger days, I was the very opposite of a risk-taker. I tried to follow a path that felt safe, both psychologically and financially. I think it was what I needed to do at the time, but I always knew there was something important missing from my life. Although getting older brings its own set of problems, it does have some distinct benefits. I’m much more confident and self-reliant, willing to take risks that may upset my emotional equilibrium.

I simply don’t care so much about being judged or rejected. Ageing brings freedom, and with this new mindset I have become smarter, quicker, funnier, and vastly more creative. I am truly my best self, artistically and otherwise.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rachelleibman.com
• Instagram: @rachel_leibman