Margo Rivera-Weiss adores colors, pattern, and using tools. They draw on their ethnic heritage, family background and artistic energy to create an eclectic body of work that includes recycled and bottle cap creations, printmaking, Hebrew calligraphics and “a world of fruit— made primarily in the mediums of watercolor and India ink.”

Margo calls their style of art “tropical expressionism” and makes and sells art in Oakland, California.

Margo has a BA in Ethnic Studies from UC Berkeley. They are self-taught in the use of recycled materials, pen and ink, and acrylic painting, although they have studied at Studio One, La Raza Graphics, SF State, Lehrhaus Judaica, and the Japanese Cultural Center.

Margo has exhibited throughout the Bay Area, including the SF Public Library, La Peña Gallery, the Japanese Cultural Center, the Jewish Community Library, EBMUD and the Alice Arts Center. Margo is a regular illustrator for Edible East Bay. Their art has been published in Other Tongues, Bridges, and Fireweed. They have built numerous ofrendas for el Dia de los Muertos celebrations throughout the Bay Area. In 1998 Margo initiated the JanRae Community Art Gallery at the Women’s Cancer Resource Center in Oakland, which they continue to curate. Margo teaches sketchbook classes, relief print classes and watercolor painting classes at WCRC.

Margo is a former board member of QWOCMAP and the Richmond Art Center. They won the Oakland Indie Award in 2009. Margo is part of the Artist Advisory Committee for National Institute for Artists with Disabilities in Richmond, CA.