STEPHEN RYBACKI

My name is Stephen Alexander Rybacki. I was born and raised in
southern California, and currently reside in La Verne CA. In the spring of 2009 I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at California Polytechnic University Pomona. My goal was to further gain knowledge of media and technical hand skills in painting, drawing, ceramics, and sculpting. Out of school my immediate focus with my art was to expand my techniques, materials,
illustration skills, as well as meet new people in the art community.

While moving through my body of work over many years, I found my strongest asset became texture and media on the surface of my work. I began to develop a love for new material I began experimenting with, sheet metal. With the mentorship from local artist Fr. Bill Moore, I spent the next 10 years experimenting and trying to control rust/oxidation on the surface of the metal, as well as incorporate the rust into compositions on different surfaces.

I am currently working to fine tune and focus on the delicate texture and colors of rusted objects, as well as how to isolate the beauty of the natural oxidation process. A rusty metal grate that has been outside for months often goes unnoticed. I find myself spotting these elements in my life daily and using them as my main inspiration to create my art.