Rebecca Tobey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rebecca Tobey
"Path Finder" by Rebecca and Gene Tobey
Born	Rebecca Upton 1948 Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
Occupation	Artist of ceramic animal sculptures

Rebecca Tobey is an American artist who lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She makes amazing animal sculptures using materials like ceramic (a type of clay), brass (a metal), and patina (a special finish that gives metal a unique color). Her art mixes modern and abstract styles.

For many years, Rebecca worked with her husband, Gene, to create these animal shapes. Their artworks are inspired by the old stories and beliefs of Native American people. Important groups and even the government have asked them to create art. Their sculptures have been shown all over the world!

Early Life and Animal Love

Rebecca Tobey was born Rebecca Upton in 1948 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She grew up in eastern Tennessee. Her dad was a scientist, and her mom was a graphic designer.

From a young age, Rebecca loved animals and nature. She and her brothers and sisters spent their summer breaks at a fun resort on Watts Bar Lake in Tennessee.

Rebecca went to a boarding school in Lowell, Massachusetts. Her teachers there told her she wasn't good enough to be an artist. But Rebecca didn't give up! She went on to earn two degrees in theater arts from Adelphi University. She then started her career in Long Island, New York.

Moving to Santa Fe and Artistic Journey

Rebecca first lived and worked in New York City. But in 1975, she visited Santa Fe, New Mexico, and loved it so much that she decided to move there right away!

In Santa Fe, she became the director of an art gallery. There, she met Gene Tobey, who was showing his special pottery. Rebecca and Gene soon started working on art together. At first, they made ceramics. But after 1990, they began using other materials like bronze and patina.

Creating Amazing Animal Sculptures

In 1997, Rebecca and Gene made their first sculpture together, called "Wind River." They showed it at Western State College in Colorado, where their children were studying. Their next sculpture was a big, curved buffalo named "The Tobey Buffalo." Another buffalo sculpture, "Rising Star," was smaller and made of bronze. The animal shapes they created were inspired by Native American stories.

Rebecca makes animal sculptures with interesting layers and ideas. Some of her ceramic pieces have designs and holes that create cool patterns. She made many sculptures with her husband. One example is the 15 feet (4.6 m) "Spirit Walker" bear sculpture. It was given to the Law School of Baylor University in 2000. This sculpture has drawings on its surface that tell the history of Waco.

Another famous piece is "Pathfinder." This bronze sculpture of a 5 feet (1.5 m)-tall grizzly bear is at the Western State College. Students think it brings good luck, and they often kiss the statue before taking an exam!

Rebecca also created a special "prong-horned antelope" sculpture with hand prints and eagles. This artwork was sold at an auction to help the Cancer Foundation for New Mexico, a group she supports.

Rebecca's Personal Story

Rebecca met Gene in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1984. The next year, they opened a new art gallery called "Gallery Five." However, they had to close it down later that year because not enough people visited.

In November 1985, Rebecca and Gene got married. After that, they started working together to create ceramic sculptures. They began by making dishes and everyday items. Soon, they moved on to making their famous animal sculptures. Gene sadly passed away in 2006 after an illness. Rebecca still lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, today.

Artworks by Rebecca and Gene Tobey

Here is a list of some of the artworks made by Gene and Rebecca Tobey:

• American Bear
• Apache
• Cherokee
• Dakota
• Dine' - The People
• Earthbound
• Eclipse of the Sun
• Freedom
• Friends in a Storm
• Hummingbird
• Keeper of the Trust
• Kiowa
• Maasai II Moran
• Monica's Vision
• Pathfinder
• Spirit Guardian
• Wind River
• Zuni

Books About Their Art

Rebecca and her husband Gene Tobey wrote a book together called Partners in Art: Gene and Rebecca Tobey. In the book, Rebecca shares stories about the 20 years they worked on art together.