Our Duke Arts Create “Meet the Instructor” Q&A series continues with Durham-based visual artist and papermaker Becca Ibarra. Through drawing, painting, and weaving, Becca explores minimalism and abstraction rooted in an intuitive process-based approach, often treated as a self-study in visual form.
Becca is one of many Duke Arts Create instructors—local artists from Durham and the surrounding area who lead hands-on arts workshops for Duke students, faculty, and staff, open to all skill levels throughout the academic year. Duke Arts Create also offers select workshops that are open to the public.
Read the Q&A below to learn more about Becca Ibarra’s art practices, inspirations, and experiences with Duke Arts Create!
I practice papermaking, drawing, painting, and weaving, all of which align with my minimalist and process-driven approach. Exploring a variety of materials and ideas during my studies at Roanoke College is what led me to understand my identity as an abstract artist. My gravitation towards papermaking came from a love of working on handmade paper. I taught myself through books and online resources, finding the process to be fulfilling and in sync with my artistic values.
Artmaking for me is a self-study in visual form. I like to find balance between order and disorder, which stems from my own journey of managing anxiety. My process is often intuitive, with each piece uncovering meaning through process. I’m also inspired by the artist community around me, particularly in Durham. There’s plenty of room for everyone to explore their creativity here.
The philosophy behind my art is rooted in process and balance. I enjoy creating a sense of gentle order in my work while still leaving room for organic imperfections. My work reflects an ongoing exploration of intuition and the visual representation of thought and feeling. To me, this comes when I’m able to get into a state of curiosity and presence, allowing the materials and process guide the outcome.
My work has shown me how important it is to trust the process and stick to what feels true for me. It’s helped me find clarity when life feels messy and reminded me that imperfection is part of figuring things out. I’ve also realized how much community and connection matter. Sharing ideas and spaces with others who value creativity can lead to opportunities you’d never expect and make the whole experience so much more meaningful.
I learned how to sew on a machine about ten years ago, and I’ve always used sewing in practical ways like clothing alterations, but I would like to experiment with it as an artistic medium. Sewing and mending feels like a natural extension of my interest in tactile, process-driven art and offers a lot of options for experimentation and growth.
Teaching for Duke Arts Create gives me a chance to be involved in a discovery process for others. It’s awesome seeing students gain confidence in their creativity and get curious about other applications of a newfound knowledge. It’s also really impactful for me to watch others connect with a process that I hold dear.
Agnes Martin, Eva Hesse and Ruth Asawa are three artists whose artwork has resonated with me since I first began working abstractly.
Make work that feels honest to you. Good art comes from a genuine place, so allow yourself to be open to what you want to create. Also, don’t give up on ideas that feel special because the execution isn’t what you want it to be – it’s more than ok to make work that doesn’t quite land in the process of getting to something that does.
Keep up with Becca on Instagram→
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