BARBARA RYDZROSS

b.1950, Boussou, Belgium Lives in Chicago and Florida, USA

“I work abstractly, intuitively, with an overpowering need for balance and connection. My content is not literal but emotional, comprised of color, texture, and light. By penetrating, stabbing, or touching shapes, I make a desperate attempt to relate, to affect, to establish communication, to link together. I have observed that we don’t relate to each other anymore because of our online presence.”

Barb RydzRoss was born in Belgium to Polish immigrant parents who were survivors of concentration camps. Over the years, she has resided in various cities including New York, London, Hong Kong, and Germany. After a successful career in Human Resources spanning 23 years and raising three children single-handedly, she rekindled her passion for painting and pursued art studies at the School of the Art Institute in Chicago, Illinois. There, she achieved a Certificate in Drawing and a Certificate in Painting.

Her artistic achievements include having three of her larger acrylic paintings permanently displayed in the lobby of One Arlington Plaza in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Additionally, her works adorn various areas of the building. Notably, North Light Books featured one of her collage paintings in their 2014 publication, “Incite 2 Color Passions/ The Best of Mixed Media.” Furthermore, her painting titled “Green Forest” was selected for inclusion in the 2020 publication “The Best of Acrylic: 102 Winning Works,” presented by Artists Magazine.

In 2014, Petra made the bold decision to leave the legal field behind and fully dedicate herself to her artistic pursuits. Since then, her captivating artwork has captured the attention of national and international galleries, art critics, and collectors. Through her paintings, she skillfully weaves together personal and collective memories from her daily life, using shapes, marks, and lines to create an abstract language that seamlessly oscillates between lyrical abstraction and figurative references.

Renowned art curator Nell Cardozo eloquently described Petra’s work, stating, “There is a generous intimacy in Schott’s use of color that evokes a subtle interplay between comfort and longing. Looking into her paintings is akin to peering into a dream that resonates with the collective consciousness.”

Petra Schott continues to exhibit her artwork regularly, both nationally and internationally, captivating audiences with her evocative and compelling artistic vision.