rebeca zimmermann

We’re excited to introduce Art Pulse Emerging — a new series spotlighting artists on the rise. Over the past few years, we’ve focused on sharing what’s happening across NYC’s museums and galleries, and we’ll continue to do so. We’re lucky to have access to world-class institutions… but the real heartbeat of this city is its community of working artists — many of whom aren’t yet showing at major galleries.

With this series, we’re spotlighting artists we believe you should know. For readers interested in building personal collections, each feature includes a gallery of available works. Feel free to contact us anytime to learn more about purchasing a piece.

meet rebeca

In our first interview for Art Pulse Emerging, we sat down with Brazilian artist Rebeca Zimmermann in her Bed-Stuy apartment studio to learn about her creative process and start with oil painting. Largely self-taught and guided by intuition, Rebeca spoke candidly about the (relatable) struggle of taking that initial step towards a creative pursuit.

So, Rebeca, how did you get started painting?

I've been painting all my life, but I started taking it more seriously in the beginning of 2024. I had just quit my job and I started to get really depressed because, well, I wasn’t doing much of anything. I was living in a big apartment in Salt Lake City at the time, so I had plenty of space. In a room that I think was technically supposed to be a dining room, I took all of my painting supplies out and turned it into an art studio.

And what did you paint in your new dining-studio?

I started with no expectations whatsoever. I just let the brush take me. I started dabbling with oil paint because I was like, why not? I had always wanted to try, and I realized that there’s never a perfect time for me to do this. So I started doing it right then.

And did this help with your malaise? Did you find yourself?

I realized that I feel the most like myself when I am painting. When I'm not painting, it feels like I am not me. It feels like I'm doing something wrong when I'm not painting. I realized that I had been hindering my own desires, at least a part of myself, of who I was, because I was so afraid of what other people were going to think. Or maybe I was afraid of disappointing myself, thinking I wasn't going to be good enough to be an artist.

I think that’s probably very relatable to everyone who makes art in any discipline.

Exactly. But it’s like, once you put your foot in the water, you realize it’s actually not that cold.

I totally know what you mean. Okay so, I want to talk more about your process. Firstly, do you draw inspiration from any other modality of art like sculpture, photography, etc?

Absolutely. I love photography, specifically surrealist photography, like Man Ray. I just went to his exhibition at the MET and it was incredible. I love the way that he used the objects around his home to create those surrealist photographs. I am especially inspired by photographs that play a lot with very bright colors and shadows. In my newest painting I'm trying to play more with shadows and studying those photographs really helps.

And what about color? I noticed that all of your paintings, while they’re obviously distinct, they all go extremely well together. Is that intentional?

I really love deeper colors rather than brighter, and I try to limit myself to a few main colors per piece instead of going for a really wide variety of different ones in every painting. In that way, I think they converse with each other a lot better.

Do you find yourself making art solely for yourself? Or do you think about how other people will receive it when deciding on a theme to explore?

I think in the beginning I was painting for other people. I kept thinking about how my paintings could connect with people. I thought about how when you are in a museum and there's an emotion - or a pain -  that’s just captured so well, and you don't necessarily understand why as the viewer, but a piece just ends up speaking to you.

But… now I realize that in order to connect with someone in this way, I need to paint mostly for myself. You need to be honest with yourself while you’re painting. Your audience is primarily yourself. 

Yeah, I think painting is not something I chose to do. It is just something I am, and it is what I leave behind in this world once I'm gone.

buy local

The first work listed, A permanência de um olhar, was just completed by Rebeca and is a brand new release. You have early access for purchase!

Prints are also available for each of these works in varying sizes, from $60.

video interview

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