Rising Stars: Meet Robie Benve of Ohio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Robie Benve.

Hi Robie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Being an Italian immigrant who reinvented herself – twice – it feels like I’m living my third life.
I grew up in Italy and started helping in my family’s shoe business when I was seven years old. I never imagined I would leave my family, my country, or the business. I’ve always been creative, but there was rarely time for painting.
In 1996, a few weeks before earning my MBA from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, I met the man who would change my life, Vincenzo Coppola. He was a doctor, and like me, the first in his family to go to college. He was funny, smart, and kind, and we fell in love.
A few months later, he moved to the United States to do cancer research for the National Cancer Institute. Three long years later, we got married, and I joined him in Frederick, Maryland. That’s when my second life began.
Starting over in a new country wasn’t easy. I had to adapt to a different culture, a different language, and accents that were much harder to understand than the British English I had learned in school!
I was determined to build my own career and eventually worked at the Department of Defense, first as a financial counselor for soldiers, then as a Functional Technology Specialist. I loved both jobs, but between work and raising two children, there was little time left for art.
In 2010, my husband accepted a faculty position at The Ohio State University, and we moved to Columbus.
I left a job I loved and negotiated with my husband to stay home with our children for a year. For the first time in my adult life, I wasn’t working full-time, and I finally had time to follow my passion.
I found myself at the easel every day, and I have been painting ever since.
Moving to Ohio changed my life in ways I never imagined. I committed myself to learning everything I could about painting through classes, workshops, and countless hours of practice. I connected with other artists, became deeply involved in the local arts community, and gradually built a successful second career.
Today, I exhibit my work, teach classes, and run my own studio in Columbus.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not at all.
When I started painting seriously, I was already 40 years old had no formal fine art training. I told myself that if I wanted to become good at this, I needed to learn as much as I could through books, classes, workshops, and, most importantly, by painting—paint, paint, paint.
Impostor syndrome has been one of my biggest challenges. Even after years of painting, exhibiting, and selling my work, I sometimes struggled with feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. Because I came to art later in life and without formal fine art training, it was easy to compare myself to others and question whether I truly belonged. Over time, seeing people connect with my paintings, buy my work, and support my career helped build my confidence. It’s something I’ve gotten much better at, but I think many artists continue to struggle with it from time to time.
Another challenge is that being an artist means being self-employed. You are the artist, but you’re also the marketer, accountant, salesperson, and business owner. There is no guaranteed paycheck at the end of the month.
One of the most rewarding moments was when people started spending their hard-earned money on my paintings. That gave me confidence and showed me that my work was connecting with others. In 2018, I was approached by Marcia Evans Gallery in Columbus’s Short North Arts District to represent my work, which was a meaningful milestone in my journey.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I create mixed media paintings characterized by bold colors, rich texture, and layers of acrylic paint, paper, ink, and other materials.
I often incorporate upcycled paper into my work, giving new life to discarded materials while creating surfaces full of depth and visual interest.
I am best known for vibrant landscapes, flowers, and paintings inspired by places that hold special meaning. My work is not a perfect replica of a photograph, rather a representation of the feeling, energy, and memory associates with a scene.
I believe my Italian roots have a strong influence on my work. Growing up surrounded by art, architecture, and the colors of Italy shaped my appreciation for beauty, color, and design. Those influences still find their way into my paintings today.
What I am most proud of is having built a fulfilling career as an artist after spending many years in a completely different profession. I also love being able to share what I have learned through teaching and community involvement.
Nothing is more rewarding than seeing someone connect with one of my paintings. Whether they encounter my work in a gallery, a community space, or my studio, I hope it brings a moment of joy, wonder, or connection. I believe art belongs to everyone, not just collectors or art experts.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
I’m the youngest of three siblings, and my older brothers read a lot of comic books. I remember choosing an image from one of their comics, enlarging it onto a sheet of paper, and then painting it with tempera paint. I spent many afternoons doing that, especially during the colder months.
I loved drawing the characters in pencil, making them five or six times bigger that how they appeared on the book, figuring out the proportion, and then painting them. It’s a very fond memory, I wish I still had some of those early drawings and paintings.
As I remember them, they were pretty accurate. Maybe that’ just how a child sees their own work, and perhaps today I wouldn’t find them nearly as impressive. But back then, I was extremely proud of them. Tose afternoons were my first experience of the joy that comes from creating art.

Pricing:

• • Original paintings typically range from $100 to $2,900, depending on size.
• • Commissioned work is available
• • Fine art prints are available at a lower price points.
• • Studio visits are available by appointment.
• • Painting classes and workshops are offered throughout the year at my Columbus studio.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://robiebenve.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robiebenve/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RobieBenveArt/