Rising Stars: Meet Rhea Carmi

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rhea Carmi.

Hi Rhea, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started painting after I lost my brother-in-law to Yom Kippur war in 1973. I needed to express myself and art was a ‘path to healing. I focused on the human condition in three ongoing parallel series of paintings. “Humanity’s struggles” which explores the passion and upheaval, adversity and triumph of humanity.

“Humanity’s Resilience and ever-lasting spirit. The latest came when my grandchildren where born and the joy they gave me. My first solo show in LA was in 2005, curated by Peter Frank. This exposure brought me shows all over the World. To mention some: La Jolla, Riverside museum, Torrance Museum Germany, Italy, France, New York, Canada and many galleries in LA.

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?
Being an Artist is a constant struggle. You can survive if you believe in what you do and follow your heart. Be true to yourself and pursue your passion. If your work is good, you will be noticed. Overcome rejection by making better art.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an abstract artist…I paint and sculpt. I produced 750 works. I work almost every day. My art is a diary of my personal life as well as events in the world. I have a great deal of stylistic variations. I like to explore and to take diffident approaches to the same subject. Professor Peggy blood included me in her textbook for Savana university. Below the surface. The chapter is called: Making the Mark Modern Master Rhea Carmi.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
I emigrated to U.S.A in 1981. I didn’t attend school here so I was unknown to the art community. When I had a big body of work, I created my website to share my art. Work with galleries and art professionals.

I sent links to galleries that I researched and found that they exhibit similar art as mine. The second step was to visit the gallery frequently and show interest in the art they exhibited. After I became familiar with them, I introduced myself to the director, talked about my art and gave my card with my website address. I got responses from a few galleries which I exhibited with them later.

It is important to have an exhibition at least for a month so art critics can come and wright about the show. It is very hard to get a solo show. You can start with participating in group shows and entering competitions. Most important is to be present at exhibit openings, meet people, introduce yourself and create a net of professionals.

Contact Info:

• Website: rheacarmi.com
• Linkedin: rhea carmi
• Facebook: rhea carmi art
• Other: Wikipedia: Rhea Carmi

Image Credits
Artist Rhea Carmi