Visual Art – Washington, D.C.
Anne Rickert’s artistic journey is a tapestry woven from diverse mediums and deeply personal experiences rooted in the rustic tranquility of a German hamlet nestled in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey much of the year, with the rest spent on 8th & P, NW amidst prison halfway houses and the open-air drug market of 1970s & 80s Logan Circle D.C. Anne’s creative expression has been profoundly shaped by over a decade navigating the societal disparities and stark realities of homelessness/under housing in the urban landscapes of Baltimore and Washington D.C.
With a canvas as vast and varied as human existence itself, Anne employs a multiplicity of mediums varying from 2D pen & ink, acrylic paint, upcycled furniture, poetry & prose, found objects, resin, photography, and 2D design, even poignant 3D creations of small houses and dollhouses. Each medium serves as a conduit for her unyielding commitment and provoke dialogue about and empathy for the forgotten and challenge societal norms about whom they include.
At the heart of Anne’s artistic ethos lies a fervent desire to amplify the voices of those who are marginalized and overlooked. Through days spent traversing the Metro, she intimately engages with the tapestry of humanity, sketching the individuals she encounters and weaving their stories into her work. It is not merely observation, but a genuine connection, as she shares her sketches with her subjects, listening not only with ears but with the empathy of one who was a former colleague.
Her compositions resonate with the pulse of society, confronting issues of overpopulation, food scarcity, poverty, LGBTQIA+ community life, and the stark realities of gang culture and how it comes about. With a keen eye for the juxtaposition of privilege and destitution in our Urban Lives, Anne’s art serves as a mirror reflecting the uncomfortable truths of wealth disparity, particularly amidst the opulence of the Washington D.C. area.
Through her work, Anne endeavors to illuminate the intrinsic worth of every individual soul, offering a platform for the voices of the unseen to resound. Each brushstroke, each repurposed object, is a testament to her unwavering belief in the power of art to transcend boundaries and ignite transformative dialogue. In a world rife with inequality, her art serves as a beacon of empathy and understanding, inviting viewers to confront the often-uncomfortable complexities of poverty and the introspection of their own excess, with the goal of envisioning a more just and compassionate society.