We were lucky to catch up with Lydia Boddie-Rice recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Lydia, thanks for joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
As the firstborn of Dr. Bertrand McClendon Boddie, the second Black graduate of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, and my mother, a registered nurse, I might have succumbed to the implicit expectation to follow a path in medicine. With the middle name Althea, meaning “healer,” it seemed as if my destiny was sealed. However, what my parents did right—especially within a high-achieving, medical-oriented household—was provide the freedom to carve out my own identity.
Rather than pressuring me to continue their professional legacy, they nurtured my curiosity, intellect, and artistic passions. I was encouraged to engage deeply in the arts while maintaining rigorous academic study, leading me to develop a perspective that art, like medicine, is a powerful tool for healing. This foundation allowed me to explore diverse roles—executive leadership, education, social activism, and ultimately, my true calling as an artist.
The significance of this freedom came full circle 47 years later, as I returned to my origins in creative and expressive healing arts. Today, my father’s medical legacy is honored with a permanent installation of my artwork in the educational corridors of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. Medical students walking those halls can now experience not only the history of the shoulders they stand on but also the message that “Art Is Medicine”—a contribution that reflects both my personal journey and the values my parents instilled in me.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
As President and Creative Principal of BoddieWORKS Creations & Consulting, I am an art polymath who challenges, repurposes, and transforms creative norms through reinvention and storytelling. My artistic journey has taken many paths—from executive leadership to political and educational spheres—but my passion for visual storytelling has always remained at the core of my work.
Formally educated at Brown University (BA in Art, Psychology minor), Rhode Island College (MA in Agency Counseling), and Rhode Island School of Design (K-12 Teaching Certification), I once aspired to establish a therapeutic arts practice—a vision that was ahead of its time. Now, coming full circle, my artistry is centered on expressive arts therapies, where I blend visual storytelling with reinvented collage techniques to create iconic statement pieces that serve as testimonies for healing.
Today, I am known for my one-of-a-kind mixed-media collages, where I merge my imagination with powerful imagery to create iconic statement pieces. My work is deeply rooted in expressive arts therapies, using visual narratives to inspire healing and connection. I explore traditional and nontraditional collage techniques, incorporating fabric remnants, water-based oils, acrylics, and 3D elements to add depth and intentional irregularities.
Technology plays an integral role in my creative process, allowing me to print illustrations and images on fabric, which I then blend with companion materials to create immersive and textured compositions. Lately, I’ve been expanding my artistry into kite-making and installations, using repurposed materials to push the boundaries of storytelling. What started as an unplanned experiment has evolved into a growing collection of kites—each piece carrying symbolic significance and emotional depth.
What sets me apart is my ability to blend art, psychology, and storytelling into works that transcend the visual and become deeply personal experiences for viewers. I take great pride in creating pieces that not only showcase artistic reinvention but also serve as testimonies of healing and transformation. I hope that my work sparks curiosity, reflection, and meaningful connections—whether through mixed-media collages, fabric-infused illustrations, or my evolving exploration of kites as visual narratives.
If you’re drawn to art that speaks, heals, and reinvents the familiar, I invite you to explore my world of storytelling through mixed media. Let’s embark on a journey where creativity knows no limits.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
At the heart of my creative journey is a mission to transform storytelling through innovative, immersive, and emotionally resonant art. I am deeply committed to reinventing collage by repurposing materials in ways that challenge traditional techniques and cultural norms. My work is an exploration of how utilitarian materials—fabric, paint, and 3D elements—can merge to create art that is not only visually stimulating but also deeply transformative.
Right now, I am expanding this vision through kite-making and installations, using these unconventional mediums as symbolic storytelling tools. What began as a focus on healing narratives in traditional collage has evolved into an expansive practice that invites intentional storytelling, audience reflection, and meaningful connection. My first kite was an unexpected experiment—an emotional expression through fabric—and the overwhelmingly positive response propelled me to develop a collection of 14, with more on the horizon.
Each piece I create is a visual story, infused with layers of meaning, history, and emotion. My goal is to push the boundaries of interdisciplinary art while crafting unique keepsakes that serve as conduits for healing and personal connection. Ultimately, I hope my work not only sparks curiosity but also invites viewers into my heart space, where art becomes a bridge between imagination, emotion, and transformation.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the creative fearlessness that has led to exciting collaborations, deeper storytelling, and transformative connections with others. Art is not just something I create—it’s an experience I share, an evolving dialogue that invites collaboration, emotion, and meaning.
This fearless approach has opened doors to incredible partnerships, such as my work with V.E.T.A. (Visionaries Empowered Through Art) LLC, where I bring art to ready-to-wear footwear and apparel. I’m also illustrating the second book in a spiritual care series by Rev. Dr. Robin I. Blair, merging my artistic vision with meaningful narratives of faith and healing. As a teaching artist, I use kite-making as a social-emotional learning tool, helping students express themselves through movement, storytelling, and hands-on creativity.
One of my latest innovations is crafting custom fabric-covered box frames for my 2D collages, extending the movement and texture of the fabrics used within the artwork. This has led to collaborations with fabric and clothing designers, transforming remnants into a tactile palette that adds depth and dimension to my pieces.
I also cherish commission work, where I immerse myself in a client’s world to create personal, transformative art. Each commissioned piece is more than an object—it’s a visual story, infused with deep intention and meant to connect with its viewer on an emotional level. I like to think of these works as a heartfelt “hug from me” to those who experience them.
Ultimately, the most fulfilling part of my journey is knowing that my art resonates—that it invites connection, sparks conversation, and provides a sense of healing and belonging.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.boddieworkscreations.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boddierice
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lydia.boddierice
- Other: https://linktr.ee/lydiaboddierice/
Image Credits
Photo Credit: Tullis Johnson, Burchfield Penney Art Center (Kite Duo/Rising On The Wind/Triumph & Elements). All other photos are provided courtesy of the artist.