In Her Own Words
The Artist
Statement.
My artistic journey began at the age of five at sleepaway camp, where I spent most of the summer in the arts and crafts shack.
At summer's end, I proudly sent home a clay ashtray I had lovingly shaped for my father. Imagine my heartbreak when it arrived shattered. Thus began my lifelong love-hate relationship with clay.
As a child, visiting our Brooklyn public library was always a joy. After climbing a long flight of steep stone steps, I entered a large, window-filled room painted a dull gray, yet somehow always glowing with light. Each week I wandered the shelves in search of the perfect book. Then one day, I discovered a small volume filled with photographs of Auguste Rodin's The Kiss. I was captivated. Week after week, I checked out the same book, mesmerized by the flowing forms and timeless beauty of the sculpture.
The Elegance of Line
Today, after many years of study and physical labor, it is still the elegance of line, the curves and twists of stone, that inspire me. I am fascinated by the process of revealing the life hidden within the stone, then patiently refining each surface until it achieves its final form. That sense of discovery has never diminished. I have studied stone sculpture with American and Italian artists in college and later throughout New York and on Long Island.
Gauguin's Mistress 2024
Sharon Springs 2024
Cleft 2023
Lamentation 2023
The Shift to Canvas
After moving to the East End of Long Island in 1979, I turned my focus to painting. Painting had always been part of my life, and surrounded by the extraordinary landscapes, water views, and luminous light of Sag Harbor, I found endless inspiration. Trees, water and clouds, emotions, sunsets and orchestral music became my constant subjects. For many years I painted expressive landscapes before gradually developing a personal language of rhythmic abstraction.
This body of work represents the culmination of decades of artistic exploration. It emerged in an exhilarating creative burst, painted almost without pause over many months. Rich layers of oil paint, complex color relationships, and rhythmic movement combine to create works filled with energy, emotion, and depth.
Marders 2026
Coupe de Foudre 2026
Canaregio 2026
"Through my paintings and sculpture, I hope viewers will sense the music I hear, the beauty that surrounds me each day, and the deep love I hold for my family, my friends, and my remarkable journey."
Binnie Held Beckerman
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Location
Sag Harbor,
New York