Kimberlee Rocca

Joined Artfinder: May 2021

Artworks for sale: 35

(1)

United States

About Kimberlee Rocca

 
 
  • Biography

    I am an Iowa artisan who grew up in Iowa City. I work by day in new home construction and remodeling, while unceasingly working as a mixed media artist. My job sites are filled with a myriad of common, yet uncommon materials that continually spark my imagination and wiggle their way into my fine art works. I studied Metals, Printmaking, Fiber Arts and Graphic Design at the University of Iowa (BFA). Since 1992 I have pursued the development of techniques related to Foil Imaging and currently create my work in a studio space in North Liberty, IA. Simultaneously I draft and construct custom homes in the greater Iowa City area with Rocca Custom Homes.

    My over 30-year pursuit of artistic endeavors has continually circled me back around to reclamation and collaboration. My passion for color, process, experimentation and
    salvaging merge to translate my love of nature and modern lines into vibrant, textural and whimsical 2-d and 3-d abstract works.

    Uniquely crafted shapes are slathered in acrylics, pastels, oil crayons, spray paint, inks, pencils and roll leaf foils to create dynamic colors, textures and compositions. I cut, drill, sand, grind and assemble the newly created pieces into conglomerations of wall and table sculptures. These abstracted works and color palettes are Inspired by radiant sunsets, panoramic skies, vast fields, deep waters, winding trails and geology of every kind. My artistry is filled with bold colors and wild shapes with intentional imperfections. No piece too broken, nothing too marred. I find and see beauty everywhere.

  • Links
  • Education

    1988 - 1991

    University of Iowa

  • Awards

    2024

    Art Comes Alive Artist Award

    ART COMES ALIVE (ACA), is an annual fine-art contest & exhibit awarding the best artists working in North America with over $350,000 in awards. Hosted and Celebrated by ADC Fine Art Cincinnati

    Show more awards Hide

    2012

    Oconomowoc Wisconsin Art Festival Best of Mixed Media 2D

    Oconomowoc Arts Festival 150 artists of various mediums
  • Upcoming Events

    There are no upcoming events

    Show previous events Hide previous events

    Previous events

    Event: Octagonal All Media Juried Show 2023

    Dates: 3 Mar 2023 - 8 Apr 2023

    Venue: Octagon Center for the Arts, Ames, Iowa

    National Juried Group Exhibition

    Event: A Plethora of Art & Play

    Dates: 1 Mar 2023 - 30 Apr 2023

    Venue: Maquoketa Art Experience, Maquoketa, IA

    Solo Exhibition of Wall Sculptures, Foil Imaging prints and Play Sculpture table

    Event: Walls of Whimsy

    Dates: 30 Jan 2023 - 1 May 2023

    Venue: University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City, IA

    University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics Gallery Solo Show

    Event: Art Center of Burlington Members Show 2022

    Dates: 22 Nov 2022 - 28 Dec 2022

    Venue: Art Center of Burlington, Burlington, IA

    Group Member show done yearly

    Event: Itty Bitty Bits Group Show

    Dates: 1 Nov 2022 - 18 Nov 2022

    Venue: Art Center of Burlington, Burlington, IA

    Yearly group exhibition of works 12x12 or under

    Event: Rockford Museum Midwestern Biennial 2022

    Dates: 7 Oct 2022 - 22 Jan 2023

    Venue: Rockford Museum, Rockford, IL

    Juried Exhibition

    Event: Gallery Walk Iowa City Fall 2022

    Dates: 7 Oct 2022 - 7 Oct 2022

    Venue: The Artifactory, Iowa City, IA

    Come hang out for hands on play.
    Pivot is an interactive exhibit as I open my world of creativity for hands-on exploration and visitor participation.
    The ArtiFactory gallery space is located in the lower level of the Wesley Student Center,

    Event: Teaching through Art & Play

    Dates: 29 Sep 2022 - 22 Dec 2022

    Venue: Hillcrest Academy, Kalona, IA

    Teaching moments are part of furthering artistic ventures for future generations. I was given the opportunity to share my work in a wonderful gallery at Hillcrest Academy. On exhibition are works from several collections including my recent Play Sculptures. Check in with the school office for access or visit the gallery during one of the many school activity nights.

    Event: Art in the Library

    Dates: 1 Sep 2022 - 31 Oct 2023

    Venue: Moline Public Library & Art Gallery, Moline, IA

    A small collection of oversized wall sculpture works on display for the literary public.

    Event: Pivot

    Dates: 1 Sep 2022 - 20 Nov 2022

    Venue: The Artifactory, Iowa City, IA

    Come hang out for hands on play.
    Pivot is an interactive exhibit as I open my world of creativity for hands-on exploration and visitor participation.
    The ArtiFactory gallery space is located in the lower level of the Wesley Student Center,

    Event: Carve Out Time for Art Artist Takeover

    Dates: 7 Aug 2022 - 8 Aug 2022

    Venue: Carve Out Time for Art, International

    Full Instagram takeover for Carve Out Time for Art. I share my story, my studio and my adventures for one whole day on their Instagram platform.

    Event: Carve Out Time for Art Artist Takeover

    Dates: 7 Aug 2022 - 8 Aug 2022

    Venue: Carve Out Time for Art, International

    Full Instagram takeover for Carve Out Time for Art. I share my story, my studio and my adventures for one whole day on their Instagram platform.

    Event: Carve Out Time for Art Artist Takeover

    Dates: 7 Aug 2022 - 8 Aug 2022

    Venue: Carve Out Time for Art, International

    Full Instagram takeover for Carve Out Time for Art. I share my story, my studio and my adventures for one whole day on their Instagram platform.

    Event: Quad City Arts 2nd Ave Window

    Dates: 11 Jul 2022 - 16 Aug 2022

    Venue: Quad City Arts, Moline, IL

    Solo Pop-up window art installation at the featured main street window of the Quad City Arts. This is a juried art call.

    Event: Octagon Center for the Arts - Member Show 2022

    Dates: 9 Jul 2022 - 13 Aug 2022

    Venue: Octagon Center for the Arts, Ames, Iowa

    This unjuried show celebrates the skills, creativity, and lived experiences of the Octagon community! Let’s fill the gallery and surround ourselves with our own amazing work — established artists next to emerging artists, all media.

    Event: Picking Up the Pieces

    Dates: 29 Jan 2021 - 28 Feb 2021

    Venue: Gilded Pear Gallery, Cedar Rapids Iowa

    I am an Iowa artisan working by day in new home construction and remodeling. My job sites are filled with a myriad of common, yet unusual materials that continually spark my imagination and wiggle their way into my fine art works. Designing and building homes captures a desire for large scale creativity; the ever-flowing variety of construction waste products captivates a bold approach. My two creative disciplines are intertwined, and I have found that I can barely do one without the other.

    Event: Behind the Veil

    Dates: 13 Oct 2017 - 31 Jan 2018

    Venue: US Bank Atrium Gallery Walk, Washington St Iowa City

    On the edge of two worlds, luxuriate in songs of color in two and three dimensions.

    A collection of mixed media works on paper, roll leaf foil on metal mobile works, small scale watercolors and 3 story cascading luminescent veil installation.

    Event: Kimberlee Rocca - Short Stories

    Dates: 15 Sep 2015 - 31 Oct 2015

    Venue: University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa

    A collection short stories told in images of roll leaf foil imaging works on aluminum

    Event: Pioneer in Foil Imaging the Art of Kimberlee Rocca

    Dates: 15 Sep 2014 - 30 Oct 2014

    Venue: Polk County Heritage Gallery, Des Moines, Iowa, USA

    A collection of Roll leaf foil works on paper and metal integrated with a collection of mixed media works with foil accents on paper and canvas.

Links


Education

1988 - 1991

University of Iowa


Awards

2024

Art Comes Alive Artist Award

ART COMES ALIVE (ACA), is an annual fine-art contest & exhibit awarding the best artists working in North America with over $350,000 in awards. Hosted and Celebrated by ADC Fine Art Cincinnati

Show more awards Hide

2012

Oconomowoc Wisconsin Art Festival Best of Mixed Media 2D

Oconomowoc Arts Festival 150 artists of various mediums

There are no upcoming events

Show previous events Hide previous events

Previous events

Event: Octagonal All Media Juried Show 2023

Dates: 3 Mar 2023 - 8 Apr 2023

Venue: Octagon Center for the Arts, Ames, Iowa

National Juried Group Exhibition

Event: A Plethora of Art & Play

Dates: 1 Mar 2023 - 30 Apr 2023

Venue: Maquoketa Art Experience, Maquoketa, IA

Solo Exhibition of Wall Sculptures, Foil Imaging prints and Play Sculpture table

Event: Walls of Whimsy

Dates: 30 Jan 2023 - 1 May 2023

Venue: University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City, IA

University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics Gallery Solo Show

Event: Art Center of Burlington Members Show 2022

Dates: 22 Nov 2022 - 28 Dec 2022

Venue: Art Center of Burlington, Burlington, IA

Group Member show done yearly

Event: Itty Bitty Bits Group Show

Dates: 1 Nov 2022 - 18 Nov 2022

Venue: Art Center of Burlington, Burlington, IA

Yearly group exhibition of works 12x12 or under

Event: Rockford Museum Midwestern Biennial 2022

Dates: 7 Oct 2022 - 22 Jan 2023

Venue: Rockford Museum, Rockford, IL

Juried Exhibition

Event: Gallery Walk Iowa City Fall 2022

Dates: 7 Oct 2022 - 7 Oct 2022

Venue: The Artifactory, Iowa City, IA

Come hang out for hands on play.
Pivot is an interactive exhibit as I open my world of creativity for hands-on exploration and visitor participation.
The ArtiFactory gallery space is located in the lower level of the Wesley Student Center,

Event: Teaching through Art & Play

Dates: 29 Sep 2022 - 22 Dec 2022

Venue: Hillcrest Academy, Kalona, IA

Teaching moments are part of furthering artistic ventures for future generations. I was given the opportunity to share my work in a wonderful gallery at Hillcrest Academy. On exhibition are works from several collections including my recent Play Sculptures. Check in with the school office for access or visit the gallery during one of the many school activity nights.

Event: Art in the Library

Dates: 1 Sep 2022 - 31 Oct 2023

Venue: Moline Public Library & Art Gallery, Moline, IA

A small collection of oversized wall sculpture works on display for the literary public.

Event: Pivot

Dates: 1 Sep 2022 - 20 Nov 2022

Venue: The Artifactory, Iowa City, IA

Come hang out for hands on play.
Pivot is an interactive exhibit as I open my world of creativity for hands-on exploration and visitor participation.
The ArtiFactory gallery space is located in the lower level of the Wesley Student Center,

Event: Carve Out Time for Art Artist Takeover

Dates: 7 Aug 2022 - 8 Aug 2022

Venue: Carve Out Time for Art, International

Full Instagram takeover for Carve Out Time for Art. I share my story, my studio and my adventures for one whole day on their Instagram platform.

Event: Carve Out Time for Art Artist Takeover

Dates: 7 Aug 2022 - 8 Aug 2022

Venue: Carve Out Time for Art, International

Full Instagram takeover for Carve Out Time for Art. I share my story, my studio and my adventures for one whole day on their Instagram platform.

Event: Carve Out Time for Art Artist Takeover

Dates: 7 Aug 2022 - 8 Aug 2022

Venue: Carve Out Time for Art, International

Full Instagram takeover for Carve Out Time for Art. I share my story, my studio and my adventures for one whole day on their Instagram platform.

Event: Quad City Arts 2nd Ave Window

Dates: 11 Jul 2022 - 16 Aug 2022

Venue: Quad City Arts, Moline, IL

Solo Pop-up window art installation at the featured main street window of the Quad City Arts. This is a juried art call.

Event: Octagon Center for the Arts - Member Show 2022

Dates: 9 Jul 2022 - 13 Aug 2022

Venue: Octagon Center for the Arts, Ames, Iowa

This unjuried show celebrates the skills, creativity, and lived experiences of the Octagon community! Let’s fill the gallery and surround ourselves with our own amazing work — established artists next to emerging artists, all media.

Event: Picking Up the Pieces

Dates: 29 Jan 2021 - 28 Feb 2021

Venue: Gilded Pear Gallery, Cedar Rapids Iowa

I am an Iowa artisan working by day in new home construction and remodeling. My job sites are filled with a myriad of common, yet unusual materials that continually spark my imagination and wiggle their way into my fine art works. Designing and building homes captures a desire for large scale creativity; the ever-flowing variety of construction waste products captivates a bold approach. My two creative disciplines are intertwined, and I have found that I can barely do one without the other.

Event: Behind the Veil

Dates: 13 Oct 2017 - 31 Jan 2018

Venue: US Bank Atrium Gallery Walk, Washington St Iowa City

On the edge of two worlds, luxuriate in songs of color in two and three dimensions.

A collection of mixed media works on paper, roll leaf foil on metal mobile works, small scale watercolors and 3 story cascading luminescent veil installation.

Event: Kimberlee Rocca - Short Stories

Dates: 15 Sep 2015 - 31 Oct 2015

Venue: University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa

A collection short stories told in images of roll leaf foil imaging works on aluminum

Event: Pioneer in Foil Imaging the Art of Kimberlee Rocca

Dates: 15 Sep 2014 - 30 Oct 2014

Venue: Polk County Heritage Gallery, Des Moines, Iowa, USA

A collection of Roll leaf foil works on paper and metal integrated with a collection of mixed media works with foil accents on paper and canvas.


 

Biography

I am an Iowa artisan who grew up in Iowa City. I work by day in new home construction and remodeling, while unceasingly working as a mixed media artist. My job sites are filled with a myriad of common, yet uncommon materials that continually spark my imagination and wiggle their way into my fine art works. I studied Metals, Printmaking, Fiber Arts and Graphic Design at the University of Iowa (BFA). Since 1992 I have pursued the development of techniques related to Foil Imaging and currently create my work in a studio space in North Liberty, IA. Simultaneously I draft and construct custom homes in the greater Iowa City area with Rocca Custom Homes.

My over 30-year pursuit of artistic endeavors has continually circled me back around to reclamation and collaboration. My passion for color, process, experimentation and
salvaging merge to translate my love of nature and modern lines into vibrant, textural and whimsical 2-d and 3-d abstract works.

Uniquely crafted shapes are slathered in acrylics, pastels, oil crayons, spray paint, inks, pencils and roll leaf foils to create dynamic colors, textures and compositions. I cut, drill, sand, grind and assemble the newly created pieces into conglomerations of wall and table sculptures. These abstracted works and color palettes are Inspired by radiant sunsets, panoramic skies, vast fields, deep waters, winding trails and geology of every kind. My artistry is filled with bold colors and wild shapes with intentional imperfections. No piece too broken, nothing too marred. I find and see beauty everywhere.