Meet the Artist
Kimberlee (b. 1970) is a professional Mid-Western artist based in Solon, Iowa USA. For more than 40 years she has created wearable, sculptural and visual art. Her bold elemental works embrace the randomness of color, texture, shape and scale. Through thoughtful curation of these elements she deepens the narrative of possibility and connectivity. By embracing positive and negative space relationships the beauty of each element is celebrated.
Finding Her Way
Rocca studied Design, Foil Printmaking, and Fiber Art at The University of Iowa before completing her BFA in Metal Smithing in 1991. Alongside her artistic practice, Rocca is the founder and lead project manager of Rocca Custom Homes, where she designs and builds custom residences throughout Iowa. Her parallel careers in both construction and art have given her a unique perspective on materials, sustainability, and transformation.
Drawing on her professional experience as a home builder, Rocca began incorporating salvaged construction materials into her artwork, merging them with foils, paints, and pastels. Over the past three plus decades, her practice has developed into a distinctive exploration of collage and assemblage, informed by her early fascination with puzzles, mosaics, and patterns.
Rocca has exhibited widely in the Midwest, nationally and internationally. In 2025, she presented Shaping Perspectives, a solo exhibition at Gilded Pear Gallery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Her work was also awarded in ACA 2024 & 2025 at ADC Fine Art in Cincinnati, Ohio, and in the Octagon Center for the Arts Member Show in Ames, Iowa. Previous highlights include group and juried exhibitions at the Figge Art Museum, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, and venues across Iowa, Illinois, Arizona, and Ohio.
Her work is included in private and corporate collections and is recognized for its adaptability: many of her series allow for elements to be reconfigured and reinstalled in multiple ways, offering collectors and curators opportunities for diverse presentations.
Rocca continues to live and work in Iowa, balancing her dual practices in construction and fine art. Her career reflects a sustained commitment to craftsmanship, material innovation, and the transformation of overlooked resources into vibrant works of contemporary art.
inspirations
My abstracted works and color palettes are Inspired by radiant sunsets, panoramic skies, vast fields, deep waters, winding trails and geology of every kind. Rooted in themes of spiritual exploration and personal narratives, my art mirrors the interconnectedness of nature, architecture and relationships. Through the transformation of discarded materials, I weave modern collage stories filled with dynamic colors and unconventional shapes. My artistry is filled with bold colors and wild shapes with intentional imperfections. No piece too broken, nothing too marred. I find and see beauty everywhere.
Watch Video Talk
Thank you to The ArtiFactory for the opportunity to share about my process. Enjoy the talk
Publications
CV
Born 1970 Plainfield, New Jersey, United States
Resides in Solon, Iowa, United States
Education:
B.F.A. University of Iowa: Summer 1988 – Fall 1991
Major: Metal Smithing Double Minor: Fiber Art & Design
Emphasis in Foil lmaging
Studied under Chung Hi Chu, Virginia Myers, Ab Gratama and Nancy Purington
Solo Exhibitions:
2025
Studio Open House, North Liberty Iowa
Shaping Perspectives, Gilded Pear Gallery, Cedar Rapids, IA
2024
From Waste to Wonder, Burlington Art Center, Burlington Iowa
Syzygy, Peoria Art Guild, Peoria, Illinois
Play Sculpture Table, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
2023
Plethora of Art & Play, Solo Exhibition, Maquoketa Art Experience, Maquoketa Iowa
Walls of Whimsy, Solo Exhibition, UIHC Project Art, Iowa City, Iowa
Art at the James, Iowa City, Iowa
Walls of Play, Solo Exhibition, North Liberty Community Center, North Liberty, Iowa
Women United, On Line Solo Exhibition & Artist Talk, International
2022
Pivot, Solo Exhibition, Play Sculpture Interactive Table & Artist Talk, The Artifactory, Iowa City, Iowa
Curated Works, Play Sculpture Interactive Table & Artist Talk, Hillcrest Academy Kalona, Iowa
2nd Street Window, Juried Exhibition, Quad City Arts, Moline, Iowa
Featured Artist, Juried, Women United Artists, International Publication
Solo Exhibition, Us Bank, North Liberty, Iowa
Featured Artist, Carve Out Time for Art, International Web Presence
2021
Picking Up the Pieces Wall Sculptures. Gilded Pear Gallery, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Mixed Media Show. Massage Iowa, North Liberty, Iowa
2020
Mixed Media Show. Parade Of Homes. Iowa City, Iowa
2019
Studio Open House Studio North Liberty, Iowa
2018
Studio Open House Studio North Liberty, Iowa
2017
Roll Leaf Foil Imaging & Mixed Media Work. Us Bank, Iowa City, Iowa
Roll Leaf Foil Imaging & Mixed Media Work. LLCS Denver, Colorado
2016
Roll Leaf Foil Imaging & Mixed Media Work. Art Garage Peoria, Illinois
Roll Leaf Foil Imaging Demonstration. Iowa City, Iowa
2015
Mixed Media Show. Parade Of Homes. Iowa City, Iowa
2014
Pioneer In Foil Imaging: Polk County Heritage Gallery, Des Moines, Iowa
Mixed Media Show. Parade of Homes. Iowa City, Iowa
Mixed Media Show. Parade of Homes. Iowa City, Iowa
2013
Small Works Show, Chait Galleries Downtown. Iowa City, Iowa
Color Works in Foil. Legion Arts Commons Gallery. Marion, Iowa
Mixed Media Show. Parade of Homes. Iowa City, Iowa
2012
Mixed Media Show. Parade of Homes. Iowa City, Iowa
2011
Mixed Media Show. Parade of Homes. Iowa City, Iowa
2010
Mixed Media Show. Parade of Homes. Iowa City, Iowa
2009
Foil Imaging. Konomi. Coralville, Iowa
Gallery Walk Featured Artist. Chait Galleries Downtown. Iowa City, Iowa
Mixed Media Show. Parade of Homes. Iowa City, Iowa
2008
Mixed Media Show. Parade of Homes. Iowa City, Iowa
2007
Who am I – Foil Imaging, Gallery Walk Featured Artist. Bella Jollie. Iowa City, Iowa
Mixed Media Show. Parade of Homes. Iowa City, Iowa
2006
Mixed Media Show. Parade of Homes. Iowa City, Iowa
2005
Mixed Media Show. Parade of Homes. Iowa City, Iowa
2001
New Works Foil Imaging. The Cottage. Iowa City, Iowa
1995
Private Exhibition Iowa Memorial Hall University of Iowa. Iowa City, Iowa
1994
New Works Foil Imaging. The Cottage. Iowa City, Iowa
1992
New Works Foil Imaging. Curtin University. Perth, Western Australia
1991
Honors Exhibition – Foil Imaging. University of Iowa. Iowa City, Iowa
Group Exhibitions:
2025
Members Show, Burlington Art Gallery, Burlington, Iowa
Art Comes Alive, ADC Fine Art Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio
Affordable Art Fair, Studio 84 Gallery, Battersea, UK
Radiant 2025, ADC Fine Art Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio
San Francisco Art Fair, Studio 84 Gallery, San Francisco CA
Stronger Together, Juried, Women United Artists, International Publication
Octagonal All Media Juried Exhibition, Octagon Center for the Arts, Ames, Iowa
Affordable Art Fair, Studio 84 Gallery, Hampstead UK
Scottsdale Ferrari Fine Art Walk, ADC Fine Art, Scottsdale, AZ
2024
Depth: Layers in Translation, By Gilded Pear Gallery, Principal Financial, Des Moines Iowa
Studio Open House with Mary Zeran, Cherry Building, Cedar Rapids Iowa
Bold, Group Show; Kimberlee Rocca, Mary Zeran and , Gilded Pear Gallery, Cedar Rapids Iowa
All Members Show, Burlington Art Center, Burlington Iowa
Art Comes Alive, ADC Fine Art, Cincinnati Ohio
A Journey of Color & Shape Kimberlee Rocca and John Schafer, Quad City Arts Airport Gallery, Moline Iowa
Itty Bitty Bits, Burlington Art Center, Burlington Iowa
2023
Uncontainable Meanderings & Affinities, Kimberlee Rocca & Ethan Edvanson, Octagon Gallery, Ames Iowa
Octagonal All Media , Juried Exhibition, Octagon Art Center, Ames Iowa
2022
Member Show, Burlington Art Center, Burlington, Iowa
Member Show & Artist Talk, Octagon Art Center, Ames Iowa
Juried Fine Arts Exhibition & Sale, The Other Art Fair by Satchi, Chicago Illinois
Biennial, Juried Exhibition, Freeport Art Museum, Freeport Illinois
Octagonal, Juried Exhibition, Octagon Art Center, Ames Iowa
Art Array, Juried Exhibition, Muscatine Arts center, Muscatine Iowa
15th Annual Juried Exhibition, Freeport Art Museum, Freeport Illinois
Itty Bitty Bits, Burlington Art Center, Burlington Iowa
2019
Group Exhibition, Jewelry Show, Gilded Pear Gallery, Cedar Rapids Iowa
2017
Group Exhibition, It Takes All Kinds, Gilded Pear Gallery, Cedar Rapids Iowa
2016
Metals Group Exhibition, Iowa Meets Taiwan, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids Iowa
2015
Foil Imaging Group Exhibition, Arts Iowa City, Iowa City Iowa
Art & Engineering, University of Iowa Engineering Building, Iowa City Iowa
2014
Group Exhibition: Quad Cities International Airport, Moline Iowa
Foiled Again. Studio Arts University of Iowa. Iowa City Iowa
Group Show. Chait Galleries Downtown. Iowa City Iowa
2012
Metro Gallery Tour. Campbell Steele Gallery, Marion Iowa
2011
Foil Imaging Group Show. Arts Iowa City, Iowa City Iowa
2002
Members Show. Arts Iowa City, Iowa City Iowa
1998
Winter Solstice Show. Summit Street Gallery, Iowa City Iowa
1994
New Works Foil Imaging. Iowa Memorial Union, Iowa City Iowa
1993
Summer Season Show. Gallerie Oceanna, Martha’s Vineyard Massachusetts
1992-Current
Exhibition of Foil Stamped Prints by University of Iowa Students, Touring Exhibition
A Compilation of Student Works Demonstrating the Cutting Edge Techniques Of Foil Imaging Using The Iowa Foil Printer. The Technique Is Being Pioneered at The University Of Iowa.
1991
Student Group Show – Foil Imaging. University Of Iowa, Iowa City Iowa
Select Juried Art Exhibition and Fair Awards:
2025 Art Comes Alive. ADC Fine Art Gallery Cincinnati, Ohio
2024 Art Comes Alive. ADC Fine Art Gallery Cincinnati, Ohio
2014 Same Shit Different Day. Chait Galleries Downtown, Iowa City, Iowa
2013 Merit Award Mixed Media. Naperville Women’s Club Art Festival, Naperville, Illinois
2012 Best of Show Mixed Media. Oconomowoc Art Festival, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
Publications/Bibliography:
“Foil Imaging, A New Art Form” Virginia Myers – WDG Publishing 2001
Figure 98 -Page 91, Figure 103 – Page 99
“Photocopy Transfer Technique for Hot-Stamped Foil” Pg 98-99
Contributed two original works and original discovery technique descriptions to the first ever publication about Hot Stamped Foil.
Work listed under Kimberlee Shymansky Rocca
Women United Magazine “in the Spotlight” Curated Edition 2022
Select Collections/Commissions/Public Art Installations:
Mercy Hospitals & Clinics Cedar Rapids
Kirkwood Community College, Coralville, Iowa
University Of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Iowa City, Iowa
Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids and Coralville, Iowa
University Of Iowa Athletic Learning Center, Iowa City, Iowa
Heritage Christian School, North Liberty, Iowa
University Of Missouri St Louis Institute for Mathematics and Science Education and Learning Technologies, Missouri
Glenroy Inc. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
Lepic Kroegor Realty Coralville, Iowa
Marion Public Library, Marion, Iowa
Merryl Lynch Offices, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Coffee Smiths, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Solid Rock Christian Church, Coralville, Iowa
Home Builders Association Offices, Iowa City, Iowa
Lolly’s Salon, North Liberty, Iowa
Wellfinity Yoga Studio, North Liberty, Iowa
Skogman Realty Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Zoetic Coffee, Solon, Iowa
Massage Iowa, North Liberty, Iowa
Works Commissioned and/or Purchased for Private Collections
Australia , Canada, Europe, France, Greece , India, Switzerland, Jordan, Taiwan, USA
Professional Affiliations Past & Current:
Stanley Museum of Art, University of Iowa, Member
Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Member
Burlington Art Center, Member
Octagon Arts, Member
National Association of Home Builders, Member
Iowa City Home Builders Association, Member
Heritage Christian School, Building Committee, Playground Committee
Arts Iowa City, Board of Directors & Arts Festival Juror
Iowa Children’s Museum, Board of Directors & Development Committee
Miracle Arts Foundation, University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Volunteer
Meet the other side of my brain at Rocca Custom Homes
Build Your Dream home with Us
If you did not already know, I have a deep passion for home design and building. I work along side my husband Kevin in our family business Rocca Custom Homes as a Design Draftsman, Client Liasson and Lead Project Manager.
When you are looking to build, you may only build once. Don’t settle for the ordinary or the inexperienced. Choose Rocca excellence in Engineering, Creativity and Peace of Mind. We are the Dream Team of home building you never knew you needed.
Begin your journey here…..