Upside Down & Backwards

Born into a deeply dysfunctional southern family and abandoned by her mother at birth, Rawlings more or less raised herself, suffered through a kidnapping at age twelve, and underwent numerous additional isolating experiences. None the less, she became a self-reliant artist who survived untouched and intact rather than victimized. In 1959, Rawlings studied art in the classical tradition in Germany as well as Renaissance techniques in painting. Later in Italy, she embarked on master studies in tempera, fresco, Etruscan pottery and the lost wax method in jewelry. In 1969, she competed university studies in fine art and art history with minors in religion and Eastern philosophy. She also began exhibiting in galleries In 1972 she had her first one-person show and began exhibiting at the Virginia Miller galleries in Miami. A well-known artist whose paintings have been displayed in such places as the Miami Art Museum, Art Basel and the Louvre in Paris.

Upside Down and Backwards

Visual mysteries of an American era


As a product of the 60"s, artist Annette Rawlings associated with many of the actors, rock stars, writers and innovators who changed the course of American culture ­­­­­ David Crosby, Patti Smith, Tennessee Williams and Timothy Leary, just to name a few. Through experiences with these and other prominent people, Annette became caught up in a creative wave that was greatly influenced by the colors and cultural atmosphere of Miami. The culmination of this creativity is seen in her art and elucidated in her book. Her art reflects such experiences as spending a year in the jungles of Central America and living a year at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Readers will share the anguish and joys as well as the simplicity and complexity that are portrayed in her art, which has been displayed in such places as the Miami Art Museum, Art Basel, Virginia Miller Galleries and the Louvre in Paris.