Brief Bio

Emily Rapport is a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, she also attended The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York. Her work has been exhibited in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles.

Studio Visits

Emily's studio is open by appointment. Request a studio visit here »

Artist Statement

Emily, photo by Andrew Steiner

My paintings explore scenes of daily life and a distinctly American experience: El tracks, store windows, fast food drive-thrus, houses. These scenes are familiar - but by concentrating on what is generally called "the mundane," I hope to draw attention to the details that express a moment, or create a compelling narrative that makes the viewer want to keep looking.

I work in oils and watercolors. I consider myself and oil painter first, which is all about building the form back up, through light, color, shape and the application of the paint. Watercolors lend themselves to quick, gestural and fluid interpretations of my subjects and keep me involved in painting when I don't have time to spend days in the studio.

My interest in light is not uncommon among painters, I am especially drawn to artificial light (neon, flourescent store lights) within the urban landscape. There are no stars in the city but there are traffic lights and PayDay Loan signs.

Although my work is representational, the "feel" of the thing is more important to me than trying to create an exact drawing of any particular person or place. I take (and use) multiple photographs and often change proportions and elements of the original image as I work. Part of that is conscious choice and experience, some of it error and the rest - pure chance.