Background
Weissman, Rhoda Yvette was born on July 27, 1929 in Brooklyn.
Weissman, Rhoda Yvette was born on July 27, 1929 in Brooklyn.
Bachelor in Fine Art, California State University, Northridge, 1976. Master of Arts in Art Therapy, Goddard College, 1980.
Freelance artist, Los Angeles, since 1965. Teacher art Los Angeles Unified Schools. Art therapist Bridge Away Across, Burbank, California, 1978-1988.
Private practice art therapist Reseda, 1982-1983. Represented by LACMA Art Rental Gallery, Los Angeles, since 1994. Art instructor private adult classes, Los Angeles.
Art administrator Sunland/Tujunga Community.
Rhoda Yvette Weissman was born and raised in New York in 1929 and died in California in 2016. She has been an exhibiting artist since the late 1950's. She started painting and exhibiting in New York during the Abstract Expressionistic era of Pollack and DeKooning, and studied with the artist Charles Seide at a time when women did not get the respect they deserved based solely on gender. Her work has been exhibited in solo and group exhibition and juried shows in California and New York for over five decades. Her work has often been compared to Basquiat and Appel.
A true feminist evolving through the years, much of her imagery appears out of her views of the world; the disenfranchised, the homeless, and injustices with women – all intense reflections of moments in our society as seen through her brush. Her jagged lines, dramatic forms, vibrant colors and violent images are meant to be viewed from all angles as she always turned her paintings while working on them to observe them from all sides.
In the abstract series, Rhoda never approached the canvas with a preconceived notion of what she would paint, instead she looked for the painting’s clues. These expressionistic mixed media paintings are spontaneous expressions of the present moment and include the Homeless series and the Death series.
Rhoda went back and forth from her more abstract series to the Russian Dolls series. The dolls represented modern women entrapped and locked in position. Hands close to the bodies, dressed in traditional garb. The women's eyes rove, their heads may change position, but they remain confined. The Russian doll series is a metaphor about women in our time who still play their conventional roles in society.
Rhoda Weissman’s paintings are displayed in museums, galleries, and private collections in New York and California. She was married for over fifty years to the love of her life, Albert Weissman, sculptor, also deceased as are her two sons that passed before her death. She was also educated as an art therapist. Her paintings are prized by collectors and currently in exhibitions.
Solo exhibitions include Gallery 825, Los Angeles, 1996, Los Angeles Artcore Gallery, 1991, Pacific Palisades (California) Library. Art Gallery, 1989, Environmental Home Furnishings Gallery, New York City, 1964. Group shows include Century Gallery, Sylmar (California), 1995, University Judaism, 1995, Artspace Gallery, 1994, Joslyn Fine Arts Gallery, 1994, Galerie Galerie, 1993, West Valley Jewish Center, 1993, Hippodrome Gallery, 1993, Downey Museum, 1992, University Judaism, 1992, Minus Zero Gallery, 1991, Lancaster Museum, 1990, Installations Gallery, 1990, Pacific Art Guild, 1989, William Grant Stills Arts Center, 1989, Museum Contemporary Art, 1988, Roberts Art Gallery, 1987, Beverly Hills Art League, 1976, Santa Monica Library., 1975, Vista del Mar Art Show, 1971.
Member Southern California Women's Caucus for the Arts (exhibiting chairperson 1988-1990), American Art Therapy Association.
Married Albert Weissman, December 13, 1947 (deceased). Children: Jack (deceased), Richard (deceased).
