Today we’d like to introduce you to Robbie Best.
Hi Robbie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My life experiences have probably been the single most important influence on my artwork and my world view. I was born in Birmingham Alabama, grew up in Detroit and was greatly influenced by the rapidly changing and turbulent times of the 60’s. My parents moved into a racially mixed neighborhood on the west side of Detroit when I was 10 years old, and I attended the neighborhood schools. I have a vivid recollection of the prejudice we encountered as black families steadily moved into the neighborhood. There were instances when white parents did not want their children to play with us, and I learned at an early age to recognize the difference between the overt racism in the South and covert racism in the North. Each summer, my cousin, my sister, and I traveled to Birmingham Alabama to visit our grandmother. During these journeys, we experienced a dramatic change in the treatment of Black passengers, and in the seating arrangements. When the train reached Cincinnati Ohio, we were required to move to the rear as we crossed the Mason-Dixon Line. These experiences taught me at a very young age that racism could take different forms overt and openly enforced in the South and more subtle and covert in the North. During the 60’s I actively embrace the Black Power Movement it was a ground swell of pride, political activism, and altruism within the black community, which is totally missing today. I relish the days when Black people were just proud to be black. After earning a Liberal Arts degree from Wayne State University I worked as a Social Worker/Manager for the State of Michigan for 30 plus years. I’m in 2005. I returned to Wayne State University to begin work on my BFA which I completed in 2008. Currently, I am a full-time artist.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I never intended to remain in Social Work as long as I did however after getting a divorce and being the sole support for my two young daughters I put some of my own plans on hold to be the best parent that I could be. Social work came easily to me because of my interest in helping people, community development and desire for social change. I found the work challenging, sometimes rewarding, and often depressing but there is such an overwhelming need for additional services.
I have always loved school and when I retired I decided to return to WSU to study Art. It was a unique experience to be a senior citizen competing with young suburban kids fresh out of high school who had recent experiences in art practices and who were familiar with the various tools, materials and techniques in the studio classes. I had never taken any art classes in high school or college but as a child I had always liked to draw. I blended in well the other students and had a great time studying art and ended up with a BFA in Painting.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a visual artist whose work centers on the black female figures -individuals who have too often. been rendered invisible within the traditional art canon. Through my paintings, I seek not only to honor their presence, but to affirm the richness, complexity, and beauty of black culture.
Working primarily in oil, but moving fluently across a range of mediums, I describe my style as Abstract Figurative. My process is deeply intuitive. I approach each canvas guided by instinct, emotion, and an inner dialogue that shapes the forms and colors as they emerge. This spontaneity allows the figures to reveal themselves in ways that feel honest, spiritual, and deeply personal.
Ultimately my goal is connection. I want viewers to feel something, whether it is recognition, empathy, curiosity, or simply a matter of stillness. By inviting people into these intimate, visual narratives, I hope to create a space where black women are not only seen, but celebrated, and where others can find their own reflections woven into the work.
I am active in several different art organizations. One of them is the National Conference of Artists, Michigan Chapter. It is the oldest and largest continuously operating national African American visual art organization in the United States. The gallery is located in Detroit in the Northwest Activities Center. The group meets monthly and for over a decade I served as the Moderator for the NCA Forum. I led discussions on art, gave lectures , organized workshops, secured guest lecturers and interviewed guests, one of whom was the renowned artist David Driscoll. I also served as Vice-President.
I was named Artist in Residence for Farmington Area Arts Commission in 2011.
I have work on permanent display in Henry Ford Hospital (West Bloomfield and Detroit)
I have work published in the International Review of African American Art
I am proud of establishing Legacy-House, my studio/gallery which I renovated and have plans to use as an art incubator where I will focus on female artist.
I am an interdisciplinary artist, working across a wide range of mediums, driven by curiosity and a desire to explore the unexpected. My practice centers on experimentation of subject matter, tools, and materials as I search for new ways to express ideas and challenge familiar forms. Whether working with traditional techniques or unconventional processes, I approach each piece as an opportunity to discover something unplanned and authentic. Through continual exploration, my work aims to reflect the fluid, playful, and ever evolving nature of creativity itself .
What do you like and dislike about the city?
The thing that I most admire about the city of Detroit is the resiliency and the hustle of the people they are fighters. Whatever happens they will hang in there. I also admire the loyalty of the community. I love the fact there is such a vibrant art community in Detroit and how they supported one another. As a result many artist are attracted to the vibe and have moved here. There is always some art event happening.
I like the fact that the Detroit Art Institute has embraced the local art community and has collaborated on projects.
I like the beautiful murals throughout the city.
I like the Riverwalk, the free Jazz Festival, the new restaurants and outdoor cafes.
The thing I like least about the city is the bureaucratic red tape when you are trying to get something done and the backlog of paper work. I dislike the slow pace of renovating neighborhoods.
Pricing:
- Prints are available and are priced depending upon the size
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artbyrobbiebest/
- Facebook: Art by Robbie Best
