On view now through March 28, 2016 at the Grand Central Branch of The New York Public Library is the exhibition BOBBI BECK: FACING MYSELF. As a longtime Upper West Sider, she has had many solo exhibitions at various libraries throughout New York City. These artworks are autobiographical in nature and reflect her day-to-day observations and feelings expressed in her own unique and original style.

Tell us a little bit about the current exhibition you have displayed in the Grand Central library titled “Facing Myself.”

All of the art currently on display here represents everything I have completed over this past year. This exhibit should be of interest to anyone who has experienced the ups and downs of everyday life that we all try to cope with and face up to. Some of the topics explored are: technology overload, financial anxiety, mood swings, head-on confrontations with others, aging, family dynamics, emotional conflicts and more, all done with lots of humor and sarcasms stirred into these complex themes.

What was your inspiration for this work?

Every day I get up is a surprise to me and I never know what will cross my mind and end up on my drawing board. It usually starts with the news which always gets my heart ticking. Throughout the day I am reading anything I can lay my hands on; my words always turn into pictures in my mind. Then of course, being bombarded by the visual stimulation of wandering around New York City is constant fodder for new ideas. I am habitually ripping out pages from discarded magazines on any subject, and also spend many hours poring over old books for bits and pieces of things that I can mentally assemble for use in my next project.

Before becoming a fine artist, what was the best piece of advice you were given?

In grade school my first art teacher said to me “Draw what you are thinking. Create an art story that expresses your changing feelings and most of all have fun and always enjoy yourself.” I have followed that path all my life.

What’s the most important aspect of your artwork over the course of your career?

Connecting and sharing life experiences with everyone who stands in front of one of my pieces and thinks “That’s me!” I then know I have succeeded.

What are you doing when you’re not creating new pieces?

When not at my desk working, I love to occupy myself with activities that are tied to the creative process. Doing anything that involves my hands and brain working as a team has always been my constant joy. Other interests that feed my art spirit are cooking, Yoga, getting lost in films, laughing with friends and family, reading, and packing every day with as much as I can cram in, until I drop into bed exhausted and content. While recently spending some time in Barcelona, I became exposed to the architecture of Lluís Domènech i Montaner. I really related to his style of combining various components of fabulous ornamentation inspired by Spanish-Arabic architecture and Art Nouveau curvilinear design. And also visiting Gaudi’s buildings convinced me I was always on the right track with all my wobbly forms.

You’ve done countless other exhibits throughout the numerous branches of the New York Public Library. What is it about the NYPL that makes you keep on returning?

One of the wonderful things about displaying my work at libraries throughout New York City is that each branch represents a different and unique neighborhood. Doing exhibitions from Washington Heights all the way down to SoHo, to my neighborhood on the Upper West Side and across town to the East Side, I have found each branch has something very special and exciting to offer both an artist and visitor. I have been constantly exhibiting at libraries for many years and it’s the interaction with the great variety of people and their communities they live in that keeps me going.

What’s on deck for you?

I started this series several years ago working only in black and white. Gradually I have been adding very small spots of color. Probably color will play a bigger role in my future work but only as a vehicle to help tell the story. I also would like to work on larger formats. I recently did a very large wall piece that is now part of the permanent collection hung at the Riverside Library in the Lincoln Center area. That really excited me and got me thinking in a whole new direction. And of coarse, continue to share my work with everyone who loves to spend time at our wonderful libraries reading and seeing.