Rebecca Wilkinson (Bex) was born in Chicago, Illinois, to parents who were avid art collectors. Her childhood was spent surrounded by works by The Hairy Who (1966-69), and Surrealists such as Paul Delvaux & Joan Miro, as well as artists without quite as much recognition like Maryan (1927-1977.) Her parents also collected local Chicago and New York artists such as Seymour Rosofsky (1924-1981,) Leon Golub (1922-2004,) and Irving Petlin (1934-2018) who also influenced her work. At six years old, Bex boldly declared that it was an ‘artist's life for her,’ told her parents that she would become a painter, and wanted to paint the living room ceiling purple with pink polka dots! She understood, even then, the paramount importance of art in the world.