About Rebecca Boraz
Rebecca Boraz is printmaker and mixed media artist based in Portland, Oregon. She works predominantly in relief and intaglio printmaking, but has also explored ephemeral mediums, including performance art and zines. She also began working in ceramics in 2022. Rebecca Boraz was trained at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston where she received her BFA, and she has also spent a year studying printmaking in Florence, Italy. Rebecca Boraz has Master’s degree in art therapy from New York University and completed a residency at Skopelos Foundation for the Arts in 2014.
Artist Statement
In my work I utilize cubism to abstract perception. Born with a visual impairment where I often see double, I try to bring this visualization into my imagery and then work toward having a cohesive composition. Utilizing a figurative narrative approach, I explore nostalgia for the future- the moments we dream of eventually experiencing- as well as nostalgia for the past and the emotional states that accompany it, including ambivalence. I purposely use forms and layer imagery so that the viewer can have a Rorschachian experience with how they uniquely see and connect to my art. Common themes throughout my art include feminism, human carnal comparisons to animals, and interpersonal relationships. I am particularly inspired by Freudian psychology, specifically, the genre of object relations and psychodynamic theory.
Rebecca Boraz Resume
Education
M.A. 2008 New York University - New York, NY
B.F.A. 2006 The School of the Museum of Fine Arts - Boston, MA
Representation
The Rental Sales Gallery with the Portland Art Museum - Portland, OR
Grants
2023 Regional Arts and Culture Grant, Arts3C
2012, 2015 Regional Arts and Culture Council, Multnomah County Cultural Coalition Grant for Art Programs
2009 National Endowment for the Arts, Access to Cultural Excellence Art Programming
Residencies
2023 Personal Residency at Running With Scissors Studio- Portland Maine
2014 Skopelos Foundation for The Arts - Skopelos, Greece
Exhibition Record
2024 Group show curated by Jeremy Okai, Nationale Gallery – Portland, OR
2023 Fall Members Show, Rental Sales Gallery at the Portland Art Museum – Portland, OR
2023 Cascade Aids Project Art Auction, Curator’s Choice Award- Portland, OR
2022 Spring Members Show, Rental Sales Gallery at the Portland Art Museum – Portland, OR
2021 Fall Members Show, Rental Sales Gallery at the Portland Art Museum – Portland, OR
2021 Printmaker’s Hand IV, Curator’s Choice Award Recipient, Northwind Arts Center – Port Townsend, WA
2021 Spring Members Show, Rental Sales Gallery at the Portland Art Museum – Portland, OR
2021 Cascade Aids Project Art Auction, Curator’s Choice Award- Portland, OR
2020 Fall Members Show, Rental Sales Gallery at the Portland Art Museum – Portland, OR
2019 Fall Members Show, Rental Sales Gallery at the Portland Art Museum – Portland, OR
2019 Remembering the Furture, Erickson Gallery- Portland, OR
2019 Spring Members Show, Rental Sales Gallery at the Portland Art Museum – Portland, OR
2018 Fall Members Show, Rental Sales Gallery at the Portland Art Museum – Portland, OR
2018 Printmaker’s Hand IV, Merit Award Recipient, Northwind Arts Center – Port Townsend, WA
2018 “Remembering the Jews of Kamenka,” Permanent Collection of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum – Washington D.C.
2018 Monster Drawing Rally, Portland Art Museum- Portland, OR
2018 “Portraits,” (juried exhibition) Gallery 114 – Portland, OR
2017 “The Friendliest Group Exhibition,” True Measure Gallery- Portland, OR
2017 Fall Members Show, Rental Sales Gallery at the Portland Art Museum – Portland, OR
2017 View From Here, Participant and Guest Curator, Erickson Gallery- Portland, OR
2017 Monster Drawing Rally, Portland Art Museum- Portland, OR
2017 New Work Show, Rental Sales Gallery at the Portland Art Museum- Portland, OR
2016 “Triad” Group Exhibition, True Measure Gallery- Portland, OR
2016 Fall Members Show, Rental Sales Gallery at the Portland Art Museum – Portland, OR
2016 Monster Drawing Rally, Portland Art Museum- Portland, OR
2016 Oceans Exhibit (permanent collection), Oregon Museum of Science and Industry- Portland, OR
2015 “Intertwine,” Participant and Guest Curator, Nebraska Gallery – Portland, OR
2015 Solo Exhibition, Crema – Portland, OR
2015 New Members Show, Rental Sales Gallery at the Portland Art Museum – Portland, OR
2015 Solo Exhibition, Maven Collective – Portland, OR
2015 “Ambivalence” Solo Exhibition, Nebraska Gallery – Portland, OR
2014 “Springstien,” Nebraska Gallery – Portland, OR
2014 “Proof of Purchase”, The School of the Museum of Fine Arts – Boston, MA
2014 “Punumbra,” (juried exhibition) Gallery 114 – Portland, OR
2011 “A Zoo Without Cages,” New Cascadia Traditional – Portland, OR
2009 December Sale, The School of the Museum of Fine Arts – Boston, MA
2007 December Sale, The School of the Museum of Fine Arts – Boston, MA
(Medici Scholar based on over $2000 in works sold)
2007 Square Foot Show, Art Gotham – New York, NY
2006 Steinhardt Student Exhibition, New York University – New York, NY
2006 Medal Awards Dinner Honoring Kiki Smith (juried), The Museum of Fine Arts – Boston, MA
2005 The December Sale, The School of the Museum of Fine Arts – Boston, MA
(Medici Scholar based on over $2000 in works sold)
2005 “The Viscous Glimpse”, Zeitgeist Gallery – Boston, MA
2005 Medal Awards Dinner Honoring Jim Dine, Museum of Fine Arts – Boston, MA
2005 Student Annual Show (juried), The School of the Museum of Fine Arts – Boston, MA
2004 December Sale, The School of the Museum of Fine Arts – Boston, MA
2004 “The Body”, XOXO – Florence, Italy
Memberships and Affiliations
2023- present Owner and Member of Brave Atlas Printmaking Studio – Portland, OR
2015- 2023 Atelier Mars Printmaking Studio – Portland, OR
2013- 2015 Atelier Meridian Printmaking Studio – Portland, OR
2009 Flight 64 Printmaking Studio – Portland, OR
Professional Art-related Experience
2017 Guest Curator for “View From Here”, Erikson Gallery– Portland, OR
• Organize 20 printmakers to make political posters as a fundraiser for the Southern Poverty Law Center.
• Coordinate show logistics and participated in display installation.
2015 Guest Curator for “Intertwine”, Nebraska Gallery – Portland, OR
• Organize 18 artists and jewelry designers to collaborate to create work in their mediums inspired by one another.
• Coordinate show logistics and participated in display installation.
2014 Commissioned-based Artist for Television series The Librarian on TNT – Portland, OR
· Produce art products and visuals that support storylines for backdrops and visual effects.
2013-2015 Printmaking Instructor, Atelier Meridian – Portland, OR
· Teach intaglio workshops and classes.
2008-Present Art Therapist – New York, NY and Portland, OR
· Support individuals and groups who struggle with mental health challenges to make art and express emotions to promote recovery.
2007 Kiki Smith's Graduate Seminars Printmaking Assistant, New York University – New York, NY
· Collaborated with Kiki Smith to aid individual projects for graduate level students.
· Lead demonstrations and taught advanced printmaking techniques.
· Maintained and provided research materials for the class and professor.
2007 Program Coordinator, Portraits of Hope with Garden in Transit – New York, NY
· Support the instruction and development of New York City's largest collaborative art project.
2004-2006 Dartmouth College Documentary Specialist – Hanover, NH
· Created three documentary films about social service projects.
2005-2006 Institute of Contemporary Art Supervisor – Boston, MA
· Aided in installation and production of exhibitions.
· Responded to phone, email, and in-person inquiries from artists, publicists, and patrons.
2004- 2006 The School of the Museum of Fine Arts Professor's Assistant – Boston, MA
· Collaborated with the professors (Pat Olezko & Ron Rizzi) to aid individual projects for college-level students
Publications
2023. Pendeton Home Magazine, Art utilized in print
2010 & 2011 The Chronicles of Incident & Thought, Volume 1, 2 & 3