member spotlighT - RoBBIE BEST

Congratulations Robbie Best, for 3rd Place Award from the Birmingham Society of Women Painters.  Robbie Best, a Detroit-based artist and member of The Society’s Greater Detroit Chapter, is an artist who found her passion for painting after a career in social work. She obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Painting from Wayne State University, launching a second career driven by a profound desire to bring visibility to historically marginalized communities, particularly Black people, whose presence and stories have often been rendered invisible throughout history.

For Best, the act of seeing is more than a mere physical process—it is a deliberate choice. “The choice to see or not to see something, or someone, is a powerful act,” she explains. This philosophy fuels her artistic mission: to render Black individuals in a positive, empowering light. While she began by painting the human figure, Best quickly gravitated toward abstraction, which allows her to simplify and deconstruct the human form.

She retains the essence of rhythm and movement within her work, creating compositions that are fluid and organic, but still anchored in the dynamic character of the figure.

Her artistic style, often described as painterly, embraces freedom and empowerment through abstraction. For Robbie Best, abstraction represents not only a creative liberation but also a personal one, embodying her vision of independence and strength as an artist and as an individual. She constantly pushes her boundaries, experimenting with new techniques, textures, and vibrant color palettes to express her evolving vision.

Exhibitions and Acclaim

Robbie Best’s work has been showcased in a wide range of solo exhibitions, including:

• “Life for Me, The Artwork of Robbie Best” at the Charles Wright Museum of African American History
• “Life Lessons” at 4731 Gallery
• “Paintings by Robbie Best” and “The Color of Emotion” at the National Conference of Artists (NCA) in Detroit, Michigan
• “Giving Birth to Self” at City Gallery, Farmington Hills, MI

In addition to her solo exhibitions, she has participated in numerous group shows across the U.S. and internationally, including the renowned Black Fine Art Show in New York City and exhibitions in Italy, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Detroit. Notable group exhibitions include:

• “Art in Abruzzi Exhibit,” Galiano, Italy
• “American Cities Series: Detroit Works on Paper” at Brandywine Gallery of Art, Philadelphia
• “New Media Abstraction and Identity Politics” at Rosenthal Gallery and Ellington White Contemporary Gallery, Fayetteville, NC
• “73rd Annual Art At The BBAC Show” at the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, MI
• “The Detroit Show” at Wayne County Community College, Detroit

Awards and Legacy

Robbie’s contributions to the arts have not gone unnoticed. She was named Artist in Residence for the Farmington Area Arts in 2011, and in 2018, her work was sold at Gray’s Auction in Cleveland, Ohio. Her art has been featured in the International Review of African American Art, and she was commissioned to create the cover for LIFETIME TRIBUTE TO GERI ALLEN, a CD celebrating the life of jazz pianist Geri Allen. Her art is part of public and private collections, including the Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital and Detroit campuses, as well as being on display at Farmington City Hall as part of its public art program.

Robbie Best is also a respected leader in the art community. She serves on the Executive Board of the National Conference of Artists, is the Program Chair of the Birmingham Society of Women Painters, and is actively involved with the Scarab Club, Detroit Fine Art Breakfast Club, and the Farmington Art Club.

A Living Legacy

Robbie Best’s work continues to challenge perceptions and elevate the visibility of underrepresented communities through abstraction, color, and form. Her dedication to exploring new techniques and pushing her creative boundaries ensures that her voice remains a vital part of the contemporary art landscape.