Bio

Renata Rush (b. 1970, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) is a Brazilian-American artist based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, working primarily in oil and mixed media. Best known for her layered abstractions that explore the emotional landscapes of identity, transformation, and freedom, Rush integrates birds as recurring symbols of creative self-acceptance and personal evolution. Her work bridges gestural energy with compositional intention, creating textured, vibrant pieces that evoke a sense of motion and introspection.

Rooted in intuitive process and informed by her background in engineering, Rush’s paintings unfold from spontaneous mark-making, evolving through a tension between structure and spontaneity. Drawing inspiration from her travels, time in nature, and macro photography, she builds imagined environments that act as emotional stage sets—spaces where color, texture, and symbol converge to reflect inner states. Her recent series include License to Fly, a body of work exploring self-permission and personal courage, and Fables of Feather, which weaves birds into abstract narratives of freedom and visibility.

Rush studied at the Milan Art Institute’s Mastery Program (2023–24) and has participated in advanced critique groups through Mastrius, working with established professional artists. Her work has been exhibited in juried group shows, including The Grandeur of Color at MVA Gallery in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (2025). She is a member of SOPA (Society of Professional Artists), and her studio practice is rooted in a disciplined yet exploratory approach that honors both instinct and design.