Rebecca Charlez’s significant expression is monocrome and sculptural. The pieces are created with textures in multiple layers. With cracks and marks she is letting the pieces emerge throughout the process, encouraging them to become their natural form. The artist was born in Varberg on the Swedish west coast in 1979 and started her artistic carreer in graphic design.
How did you get into art?
For as long as I can remember, I have been an artistic person. Growing up, my father worked at an art museum. I am certain that spending time as a child in such a creative environment has had a significant impact on me. My creativity has taken various forms during different periods of my life, including drawing, photography, writing, and playing music. Nowadays, my main focus is sculptural art, but the creative process remains consistent. I believe that all these artistic pursuits are interconnected, and there is a common thread in the final results, regardless of the medium.
How would you describe your style? What makes your work special?
At present, my focus lies in sculpture. I’m drawn to substantial forms that carry a strong visual statement. I tend to gravitate towards muted tones within a monochromatic color palette. I frequently incorporate textural contrasts, introducing depth to the composition. I find immense satisfaction in working with mediums that exude a raw and authentic essence – materials that possess an inherent spirit.
I usually receive comments about my Scandinavian design language, and yet, ironically, it’s primarily outside of Scandinavia where my art has gained attention. There’s probably something Scandinavian embedded in my expression that I’m not even aware of myself.
How do you go about developing your work?
To me, making art is all about intuition and flow. It is sometimes hard but I try not to overthink my work. If something does not feel good I move on and try not to judge. I rarely work with one piece at a time. I like to move around multiple ongoing works. To me, it’s all about the process and not so much about the final result. Which means I sometimes suprise myself along the way with things I most likely couldn’t have planned from the beginning.
Who or what influences you?
I find inspiration in nature and the ravengers of time. Old worn out materials, sand and minerals fascinates me. I’m not very interested in trying to recreate the look of an existing material. But the expression of my textured artworks often evolve into a stone-like appearance. I can somehow understand where that comes from even if it’s not intentionally.
Make us curious. What is planned next?
It is important for me to be in a constant forward motion, discovering new materials and uncovering different aspects of myself. Right now I am working on art designed for outdoor spaces and exploring the balance between art and functional objects in different ways. I am curious myself to see how my work will develop in the future.
Photos by Marie Hidvi und Rebecca Charlez
