City of Reno City Hall
Metro Gallery, 1st floor
July 29 – September 20, 2024
Reception: Tuesday, August 27, 2024, 5 – 7pm
Metro Gallery hosts sequin sculpture artist Beck Baumann “All That Glitters.” The body of work exhibits over 12 sequin sculpture pieces from varying projects spanning over 3 years. Each piece captures your eyes through the vibrant use of color and sparkle that depicts everyday objects from an ear-shaped handbag, all the way to delectable food plates.
“Sequins are everywhere. They manage to look both cheap or expensive, depending on the situation. Little kids sport them on their backpacks and sneakers, and they add glitter to couture gowns where they’re sewn on, one by one. These little plastic discs come in wild colors and muted tones, and the colors are hard to pin down because they change with the light. Sequins are flexible and rigid, cloth and armor, cuttable and bendable. I see no end to their possibilities, and that is what keeps me interested in their potential. Plus, sequins just look cool” – Beck Baumann
Beck Baumann (b.1975) is a mixed media artist with a special focus on sequins who makes her home in Reno, Nevada. Beck's whimsical sequin sculptures draw from childhood memories and a joyful nostalgia. The word that most often comes to mind is FUN. She likes to combine unexpected elements from everyday objects to create things never seen before. Her inspiration comes from that childhood place when the world felt strange, scary, and full of wonder.
Baumann's work is a blending of sculpture and wall art that is primarily covered in sequins. She incorporates trashed Styrofoam and thrifted and recycled materials into her pieces whenever possible. Her husband, Robert Baumann, is her fabricator and collaborator, and he also creates custom wood frames for her art.
Beck's creative journey began when she started taking graphic design classes at the age of 35. After completing her degree, she spent several years writing and illustrating children's books and a graphic novel. Then she moved onto ‘painting’ with seed beads and yarn, which became the gateway for working with sequins, her primary medium.
beckbaumann.com
The Metro Gallery at Reno City Hall is one of three galleries operated by the City of Reno. Metro Gallery is open to the public and free of charge. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The gallery is accessible through City Hall's ground floor entrance on Virginia Street. Parking is available in the City Hall parking garage (NW corner of First St. & Center St.). Parking Validation can be found inside City Hall. To learn more please visit: https://www.reno.gov/community/arts-culture/city-art-galleries or contact City of Reno Arts & Culture at 775.334.6264
