Rebecca Tillman-Young
Artist
Rebecca Tillman-Young is a figurative oil painter whose work blends realism with a sense of magic and surreal beauty. Raised in Dallas-Fort Worth, she was drawn to art from a young age, encouraged by her mother’s support and guidance. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the
University of Texas at Arlington in 2013 and has since continued studying with artists she admires, including Alyssa Monks, Lee Price, Sean Cheetham, and Marc Trujillo. Rebecca’s paintings focus on the human figure, often incorporating floral elements to merge realism with abstraction. She is drawn to the complexity of portraiture, not just in capturing likeness but in expressing a subject’s essence. Through her paintings, she aims to create a world where beauty, energy, and expression converge. Using vivid colors and dynamic compositions, she seeks to portray women not through the lens of sexuality, but through a celebration of individuality, identity, and presence. Beyond her studio practice, Rebecca is a dedicated educator. In 2020, she began teaching portrait painting, and she now runs an online portrait academy with her husband, Luke. Through this platform, she works with students of all levels, helping them develop technical skills while encouraging artistic exploration. Teaching has become an integral part of her creative journey, reinforcing her belief that art is both a deeply personal pursuit and a shared experience. Rebecca’s work has been exhibited in galleries and private collections, where it continues to captivate audiences with its rich textures and emotional depth. Through both her painting and teaching, she seeks to create art that elevates, enchants, and offers a moment of wonder in a chaotic world.
Rebecca Tillman-Young’s work explores beauty, identity, and transformation, merging the human figure with abstract floral elements to create a magical, dynamic sense of movement. Using vivid oils and layered compositions, she crafts images that blur the line between reality and the ethereal. Her focus is on people, particularly the women she paints, capturing their unique qualities—whether physical, energetic, or intangible. Many subjects are friends, and her goal is to express both their appearance and essence, creating something alive. Floral imagery symbolizes femininity, impermanence, and the fleeting nature of life. Drawing from the Dutch "memento mori" tradition, she evokes vibrancy and transience, reinforcing themes of identity and transformation. Light and shadow abstract the figure, reflecting how identity shifts over time. Through her paintings, she invites viewers into a dreamlike world where beauty, movement, and color celebrate life’s fleeting nature.
