Check out Robert Lebsack’s Artwork

Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Lebsack.

Robert, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I was born in northern California to a Thai mother and American father. I grew up in a military family, and when I was young, we moved around a lot, experiencing these different locations and cultures helped my imagination blossom. During high school, in screenprinting class I would draw other students’ design assignments and when the teacher noticed he said that I was busted–not for doing their work–but for doing it for free. So I started charging them and have been drawing and painting professionally ever since. While earning my BFA degree in Illustration from Cal State Long Beach, I worked at sign shops, assisted muralists, and did anything that was art related and could get me more industry knowledge. After graduating, I went on to work full time as a Muralist and Commercial Illustrator for an Interior Design Company where I designed graphics and painted murals for restaurants, schools, and universities throughout the country. After gaining all of that experience, I moved on to focus on creating fine art. I showed my artworks all around LA and the surrounding areas for a while, and then around six years ago, I became represented by an amazing gallery. Artspace Warehouse Gallery exhibits my work in Los Angeles as well as all around the world and sells my work to various collectors including celebrities and television shows.

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I make mixed media paintings and drawings on wood panel using printed text as the base to paint and draw on. Utilizing torn pieces of newspapers, books, and sheet music, I construct a collage background where words and ideas collide and overlap. I then use figures and landscapes to craft open-ended narratives, leaving the viewer free to interpret the art on multiple levels. Some will draw their meaning or emotional response from only the imagery. Others will interpret my art by reading every word or lyric. Still, others will take in all the elements and prescribe meaning based on a forgotten memory or dream. I like listening to different people’s ideas of what each piece means; it reveals something about yourself and how you think that you may not consciously know.

What do you think it takes to be successful as an artist?
I would define artistic success as a feeling of fulfillment. Originally I made art for fun, and I think if you can keep that going in your professional career, you are successful no matter how much you sell or how large of a following you have. I think perseverance is the key element to being successful at anything. Particularly in art where everyone has their own taste and what is considered good is relative, a thick skin definitely helps.

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
People can see and purchase my work in Los Angeles at Artspace Warehouse Gallery on Beverly Blvd.
https://www.artspacewarehouse.com/en/artist-robert-lebsack

Online at robertlebsack.com and Instagram @chance1art and @chanceartworks

Contact Info:

• Address: 2045 E. Florida Street #4 Long Beach, CA 90814
• Website: robertlebsack.com
• Phone: 562 212 8355
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @chance1art

Image Credit:
Robert Lebsack

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition, please let us know here.