Since the early days of her art practice, Rebecca Rothfus Harrell has been influenced by the American Precisionists of the 1920’s & 30’s, particularly their approach to spatial organization, dimensional & time flattening, and selective realism. With regards to subject matter, just as many Precisionists explored the cities, farms, and factories that surrounded them, Rebecca initially explored the modern built environment and it’s intersection with the natural landscape, specifically looking at cell towers. However, soon after her fascination with rocks, crystals, and gemstones took the lead, inspiring her to create artworks that were often described as surrealist landscapes or still-lifes.
With her current series of artworks, Rebecca returns her attention once again to the built environment. By documenting the signs and structures of the urban and rural landscapes that surround her, she exposes an often-overlooked world of lines, shapes, and forms, revealing the essence of these found objects. Rebecca’s visual exploration enables us to look beyond the surface of things, into its process of decay and deterioration, exposing the object’s “between” state.