The streets of the West Village in New York City were abuzz with an unusual crowd. A familiar French cafe, normally a haven of quiet elegance, had been transformed into the vibrant set of “Emily in Paris” — a launch party orchestrated by Netflix and the iconic Lillet drink brand.
In the midst of the crowd sat an artist, red beret perched atop her curly ginger locks. For two days straight, nine hours a day, she sketched to capture the unique details of the experience: charm bracelets clicking, custom Lillet bottles adorned with fashion illustrations and spritzes shimmering in the afternoon light. The air was thick with the scent of French pastries and the murmur of excited voices.
“I got hired to do what essentially felt like Disney World. That was amazing — I'm such a Francophile, so that was personally fun,” said Rebecca “Bex” Schneider, the artist who sketched the launch party.
Schneider, an Auburn alumna and Alabama native, owns a niche fashion-driven art business in New York City: xo, Bex Studio. Known for her live illustrations and luxury paintings, Schneider infuses her artistry with a lively and refined feminine style. What started out as what she called a secret passion has blossomed into a thriving career for Schneider.
It was through an opportunity presented during her time at Auburn that Schneider came to realize her true calling. In September 2017, she was selected by the College of Human Sciences to be an on-site assistant for New York Fashion Week.
“Auburn paid for my plane ticket and I came up for a week. I'll never forget, I snuck into a show and I'm watching Paula Abdul and Tim Gunn and everyone mingle, and I'm getting so emotional — the whole industry is coming together right now, and that was too much for me to handle,” Schneider said. “Then the lights go down, the first model came out and I just had this fat tear roll down my face, like, ‘I never want to leave this moment.’ I felt like so much had built up to that.”
Xo, Bex Studio’s roots can also be traced back to Schneider’s time as an apparel design major at Auburn. As a member of Auburn’s Dance Marathon, a student-led philanthropy, Schneider raised money by selling her artwork.
“It's cool to think back that that is where I started xo, Bex. That's where I realized, like, ‘Wow, people actually want this. This is crazy.’ So after I graduated, I just kept sketching — it's always been my safe place, it’s where I go to sort my thoughts and find peace,” Schneider said.
Schneider moved to New York City following her graduation in 2018. She accredits her success in the Big Apple to being in touch with herself and knowing where her passions lie.
Between 2018 to 2021, xo, Bex was not a business at all. After the coronavirus pandemic, Schneider found herself feeling unfulfilled in her job as a project manager for a talent agency. She resigned from the agency to dedicate herself entirely to her artwork.
She started off sketching live portraits at real estate showings, trying to make connections and get more experience under her belt. Her first fashion-related project was sketching “BFF Day” for the bracelet company, Little Words Project.
Rebecca Schneider sketching with LaCroix at Dear Media IRL.
Schneider vividly remembers the night she returned from her first live sketching event. As she was taking a cab back to her apartment late at night, the Empire State Building sparkled in the distance and tears rolled down her cheeks.
“I just felt so happy. I had never felt more activated as Rebecca than I had that night, and I couldn't put it into words, but it's like I never felt before that moment that I'm doing what I was created to do. It sounds silly, like, what did I do? I sketched people and talked to them about their outfits and hopefully made them feel beautiful. That's not rocket science, but I think I felt all of my talents and gifts were being activated, and I hadn't felt that in a long time,” Schneider said.
From there, talk of Schneider’s work spread. When she would attend an event and sketch, people would post about her art, giving her more connections.
“It's a very organic career, which is cool. People like beautiful things, people like art. So, they think of you and the time is right,” Schneider said.
As an entrepreneur and creative, Schneider’s day-to-day is never the same — her calendar is always booked and busy, and she is constantly working on new projects. One of her most recent projects was sketching live portraits at the Vogue Club Met Gala Watch Party.
Schneider sketched the night away. A sketch takes between three to five minutes, so she is typically booked two to four hours for an event.
“I'm always engaging with people, it's like four hours straight of just connecting with people and trying to make them feel seen and heard and loved,” Schneider said. “When they're wearing amazing outfits, it's so easy to draw them because they're colorful and whimsical, and they're usually pretty expressive people in that case. So that was a really fun night.”
Schneider urged students getting ready to enter the workforce to actively pursue what resonates with them, even if it feels daunting. She emphasized that personal fulfillment comes from honoring one's true self and encouraged students to be their own biggest fans.
“Remember that while people are kind, no one's going to look out for your opportunities like you are, and so, asking people directly and specifically for help and making sure you're keeping your eyes open to noticing when someone is going to be a cheerleader and champion for you,” Schneider said.
Though the allure of sketching for high-profile clients like Vogue or Vera Wang could easily overshadow her artistic journey, Schneider remains grounded. She understands that true success lies not just in the names she captures, but in the genuine passion she invests in every stroke, ensuring her authenticity shines through in every commission.
From the streets of the West Village to the lights of the Met Gala, Bex Schneider's journey is a testament to the power of passion and perseverance, proving that even the most whimsical dreams can become a reality.
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Sam Vise, senior in journalism, is the Assistant Culture Editor for The Auburn Plainsman. She has previously served as a culture writer and community reporter.
