Rivkah is a mixed media doll artist residing in Israel.      She made her way there from Seattle, WA in 2002.   Formerly a project manager for an upscale lighting design firm, Rivkah took a chance and made a career change upon her arrival to the Middle East.  Fascinated (and sometimes frustrated) by her novel surroundings and culture, she learned how to internalize it all by incorporating it to her art.   In Seattle, being a full time artist was a dream.

 

"My dolls are my life.  They represent my feelings, my flair, and my fancy.  They make people think.  Sometimes my dolls are fun, and sometimes very serious.  Whatever I put into them is usually what others see.  To me, that's what makes a doll a successful art composition.  That's why I'll keep making dolls forever."

 

Having sewed garments since tenth grade, Rivkah became interested in art-to-wear, and later discovered dollmaking as a less expensive means to create artsy apparel that wouldn't be ruined by being worn.  What could be better than creating  small-scale garments, and displaying them on a doll?  One thing led to another, and cloth dolls emerged from her sewing machine along with the clothing!  It wasn't long after that discovery that deeper personal meanings became a part of her doll making routine, and she realized that dolls are really a very expressive form of art.   And extremely soothing  ...

 

Rivkah's dolls have been exhibited around Israel and in the US, and appear in “Art Doll Quarterly” and Patti Medaris Culea's book “Creative Cloth Doll Faces.”  She is currently set to publish work in a new (top secret) book from Rockport publishers, and has had articles submitted and accepted for upcoming doll art publications like Dolls United, Soft Dolls & Animals, and others.  

 

I work in cloth, clay, exquisite textiles from Israel, beads and a plethora of other mixed media materials. While my focus is on designing anatomically proportionate and well-made figures, I strive to "think outside of the box" and incorporate a full palette of embellishment materials and ideas to create the art of my heart's desire.  

 

Rivkah strives to be a source of encouragement for aspiring doll artists in her country, and is involved in the preliminary planning stages for a professional dollmaker's guild in Israel.   Rivkah's greatest source of encouragement is her husband Ariel, who greatly appreciates and encourages her and her artistry.