Carol Weber was born and raised in St. Louis Missouri and actively pursued art since a very young age.  After completing an undergraduate degree in Studio Art at Principia College she moved to Illinois as a graduate student at Northern Illinois University where she earned both a Master of Arts and Master of Fine Arts degree in drawing and painting.   She subsequently went on to a 30-year teaching career as a tenured Professor of Fine Art at South Suburban College in the Chicago southern suburbs.

In addition to teaching, Weber has an extensive exhibition record including many regional, national and international exhibitions.  She is active in her local arts community serving on the Water Street Studios Gallery Committe and previously as co-curator of exhibitions at Argonne National Laboratory. She was recently featured in the Explore Art Magazine.

My inspiration had always come from nature and architecture, particularly landscapes that enthuse a sense of quiet awe and structures that are a little worn around the edges.  The atmosphere, the light, the textures, these elements of a place serve as my inspiration.  My work is filled with behind the scenes narratives.  The stories happening in the work may be personal to me but are meant to be open to interpretation by others.  My hope is that the viewer finds their own stories and emotional connection within my work.

I am a mixed media artist working in both traditional and non-traditional methods. I enjoy experimenting with the layering of mixed media along with the addition of actual objects in a way that considers both the formal elements of art and the underlying concept of the individual piece. The feeling of something familiar in a new context is always a point of departure.   I have a love for elements with a history: old nails, hinges, books, branches.  Influences of Andrew Wyeth, Robert Rauschenberg and Joseph Cornell are evident in my artistic approach.

Coming from a family of creators and collectors has also influenced my work.  My father was a structural engineer and enjoyed woodworking and photography.  My mother was an all-encompassing creative individual.  They were both avid antique collectors which filled our home with treasures.  Although I began as a two-dimensional artist, I found I had a strong need to “build” which led me into more dimensional work.  I also need to experiment which has resulted in working in an array of media.

Art evolves.  It is a form of communicating and processing information. Often the conversations that ensue around the meaning in a piece of art bring greater understanding of each other. Art helps us bridge our cultural and personal differences as well as become aware of our similarities. The challenge for me has always been to develop and continue to develop my voice as an artist in a meaningful way.