"Tornado by the Ocean. Maine." by Ieva Riddle

Acrylic and String Gel

10'' by 10''

Artist Bio

Ieva was born in Lithuania and moved to the U.S. in her early 20s to build a life shaped by experience, memory, and cultural richness. She lives on Chicago’s west side. After two decades away from art, she returned to painting in 2021—reconnecting with her creative instincts, her family’s artistic lineage, and the quiet urgency that had never left.

Trained in Lithuania, where she earned recognition for her work, Ieva grew up surrounded by artists, musicians, and teachers. Since returning to painting, she’s shown her work in pop-ups, community events, and seasonal gallery exhibitions. She creates with intention, trusting that things unfold when they’re meant to.

Artist Statement

Ieva’s artwork blends past and present, inner landscapes, feelings and emotional memories. Her art work is not love at first sight - it’s tactile, layered, and quietly magnetic. Her paintings invite you to pause, to peel back the surface like petals, letting your eyes and mind wander through brush strokes, lines, dots, textures, and blended color.

Her work spans structured color blocks and fluid movement, with palette knife and sponge taps adding texture. Some pieces feature drawn lines to guide the eye, and dots that suggest connection. Inspiration comes from within—dreams, moods, memories, conversations, and events. She follows the present momentum, letting color and texture lead.

Each painting is a journey—an emotional map rendered in pigment. Earthy and bold, bright and metallic, her canvases reflect the shifting terrain of feeling and experience.