Meet Rochelle Voyles | Visual Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rochelle Voyles and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rochelle, what matters most to you?
Definitely authenticity and honesty. When I was a kid, I remember my dad telling me the worst thing someone could do was to steal the truth from you. That idea always stuck with me, and I think it’s better to be real with others than to try to sugar coat things; people can sense inauthenticity a mile away. My hope in every interaction I have with others is that both of us walk away feeling truly seen. You can’t have that level of connection if you’re not genuine and vulnerable.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I collage with printed imagery found in books, magazines, catalogs, and posters. Every image I find presents new questions; Why was this moment important? What was the intent of the creator? Whose perspective am I witnessing?

In searching through what’s been captured and left behind by others throughout history, my practice is as investigative as it is generative. I act as a detective, an archaeologist, and a magpie; collecting paper evidence to form connections and to try to understand our history and life on this planet.

I’m currently working on a series of collages on large wood cutouts, with each cutout shape based off of modified textile and fiber diagrams. When these diagrams are translated into wood and divorced from their original intention, these shapes become symbols, like letters in a new language. I’m really excited about this series and where it’s going.

Over time I’ve learned that you have to listen to what the work and the materials require of you. You may love how something feels as you work with it, like paint or fiber, but if it isn’t allowing you to express what you want to express, you shouldn’t be afraid to abandon it in favor of what will work. Have the courage to surrender your desires for the truth, your work will benefit from the sacrifice.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If a friend of mine was in town I’d take them to Forest Park in Queens or Prospect Park in Brooklyn for a nature walk in the city and deep conversation. We’d stop at Little Tiffin for some quality Thai Food in Greenpoint or head to Spicy Moon in the city for vegan Szechuan. We’d gallery hop in the LES and Chinatown and then hit up the Rey de Reyes taco truck near McCarren Park.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I love supporting and following the phenomenal artist run spaces here like BOB’S Gallery run by Sammy Bennet with Bob Laine, and Field of Play Gallery run by Matt Logsdon. My studio mate Katie Hubbell is a joy and an absolute rock for me to work alongside, and the same can be said of my amazing studio neighbors Lauren Walkiewicz, Irene Feleo, and Hannah Antalek. My last shout outs go to the NYC Crit Club which has introduced me to amazing local artists that have become friends, to Caitlin McCormack who has been a guiding light in the darkness, and to John Felix Arnold III who encouraged me to dedicate myself more to collage when we met at the Peter Bullough Residency.

Website: https://www.rochellevoyles.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/voylescurio/?hl=en