Rising Stars: Meet Patrice Goldberg

Today we’d like to introduce you to Patrice Goldberg.

Hi Patrice, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story. 
Most describe me as colorful and passionate. 

From an early age, the joy of assembling non-related items and striking visuals had an unusual appeal to create tableaux of inspiration and imagination. My inability to overlook an item in favor of its shape, color, texture, history, or memory perhaps makes me a bit of a gatherer, but I am ridiculously enthusiastic about these mundane, found, or forgotten objects. 

My artwork is a result of a lifetime of collections and seeing my surroundings in this unorthodox manner. And yet, it is only recently that promoting and exhibiting my work in a planned and thoughtful way has become an important part of my adventure as a creator. 

There isn’t a pivotal moment when I proclaimed myself “an Artist.” It has been more of a slow, steady slog on the way to the day I finally felt worthy enough to say it out loud. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Sometimes, the struggle is internal, even when all conditions should be considered ideal! The traumas in my life are not unlike so many others — divorce, accidents, annoyances, caring for aging parents, helping a few Millennials understand the importance of responsibility! 

In other words, I can’t identify an event or moment that compelled me to create; it is simply a part of my DNA. More importantly, it has been a way to adapt while traveling this road. 

My studies and career took me into the exciting world of LA/NY advertising and, later, interior design, specializing in commercial interior architecture for the senior retirement community. Traveling the country and collecting miscellaneous ephemera provided me with a wealth of odd and found items that I knew would somehow find their way into a canvas or two. I worked hard and traveled a lot, making time in the late or wee hours to create. Never truly considering myself an artist with a capital “A.” 

The Senior World gave me an opportunity to better appreciate so many people’s life histories and experiences. This demographic often lacks the capability or forum to share or pass knowledge along. I fashioned the idea of making my assemblage works a way of storytelling. 

Now, as I approach my own senior phase of life, I confidently refer to myself as an artist rather than a retiree. 

I am re-purposed rather than retired. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I capture moments in time. 

Current work falls under the category of assemblage, which is art typically created on a defined substrate and consisting of three-dimensional elements projecting out of or from the substrate. Collage backgrounds are composed of interesting old book pages, hand-crafted papers, international waybills, and love letters – all usually combined to reflect a person, event, or mood. I have been commissioned to create assemblages that commemorate a loved one for other family members, too. The three-dimensional elements are drawn together to create the sculptural form and then painted to resemble aged metals. There are typically so many intricacies, I’ve heard it said that I create Where’s Waldo-style visuals, for adults! 

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
We should all surround ourselves with people and ideas that inspire and uplift and then people who mentor. Some of the great artists who have inspired me are Pablo Picasso, Robert Rauschenberg, Marcel Marceau, Albert Einstein, and, fortunately, my exuberant French mother and unconditionally loving father. People whose ideas and work challenge and push and invigorate. 

Creating art in and of itself is a very personal, solitary process so I have learned that getting involved in communities where you can be surrounded by like-minded individuals supports growth, sharing, and learning. It is most important to listen – especially to those who think or work differently. Getting involved in the “business” of art is also fundamental to success. 

An art instructor once told me to present my work as often as possible. Each episode, no matter how small, offers a stepping-stone opportunity. As an example, I was asked to display my art in a local restaurant. In exchange for the exhibiting opportunity, the owner requested that I and other artists provide a given amount of time at the restaurant creating so that the patrons would have a Montmartre-like experience. Working on my art with others observing (as well as commenting!) gave me a chance to practice my storytelling and visioning while also brushing off any criticism or negativity with alacrity. 

I’ve met other people of influence while teaching hand-made papermaking through our local City College. I am currently on the Collage Artists of America Board of Directors and find that there is a completely different dynamic relating to other artists in this more administrative function. All for the good, I might add. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.TrashArtbyPatrice.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pago92618?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2Za==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrashartbyPatrice?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Image Credits
Patrice Goldberg