Rachel Wolfe is a synesthetic, project-based artist bringing art and science back together in meditative and immersive experiences generated from imaging, geology, water, and technology for installations, projections, performances, apparel.
Born and raised in the Midwestern United States, Rachel pursued philosophy, writing, dance, piano, and singing before studying interior architecture and advertising communications. After working as a designer and copywriter, she worked at galleries while studying and working as a photographer. She became certified to instruct yoga and meditation in Chicagoland, studied social psychology in Matsuyama, Japan, and moved to Los Angeles, California, for graduate studies at Otis College of Art and Design. After completing an MFA, Rachel moved to Norway and continued art and photography with public events and exhibitions, began making short films, developed artistic research and learning methods while continuing to studying human behavior, textile production, Japanese dance and book making, Traditional Chinese Medicine, physics and nature sciences. Movement and embodied knowledge such as proprioception continues to be a reoccurring motive in her work with elemental allegory. She completed artist residencies in Oslo (Norway), Trélex (Switzerland), Kjerringøy Land Art (Norway), and works internationally, primarily between the USA and Nordics.
Seeing the body as the generative force in cognition and art as transcendental cathexis for the vision body relationship, she looks at ways geological time merges with elemental wisdom in ways places make people. Her award-winning work engages in the ways humans relate with nature, aesthetic ethics of beauty and the sublime, and is held in private and public collections including 1st place by the jury for the monolithic image and text, Omniscient, in the Imaging New Eurasia exhibition in Gwangju (South Korea). Albumen Gallery (London) and The Print Atelier (Montréal) represent several of her photographic series. She exhibits and works internationally with imaging and editing, education, writing on culture, art, photography, and public installations. Rachel’s teaching experience is rooted in lifelong body/movement practices through courses and workshops, ages 6 through adult.
Representation & Print Purchases
Selected Clients: Norway House Foundation, BBC, Getty/EyeEm, Nordre Aker Bydel, Smelteverket, Ekebergparken, Boffi Studio, Open House Oslo, 22nd Century Media, Outdoor Illinois/Dept. of Natural Resources, Jesse Bornstein Architecture
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Formal Resume | Artist Statement | Archive | Autobiography
EDUCATION
2019 Art of Washi Paper in Japanese Rare Books | Keio University Online
2018 Mushimaru Fujieda Butoh Workshop, KHiO | Oslo, Norway
2018 Japanese Avant-Garde, Sino-Japanese Interactions Through Rare Books | Keio University Online
2018 Music Moves: Why Does Music Make You Move | UiO Online
2015 Norwegian Language, Rosenhof Voksenopplæring | Oslo, Norway
2015 Master Fine Art, Otis College of Art and Design | Los Angeles, California, United States
2013 Social Psychology, Ehime University | Matsuyama-shi, Japan
2012 Darkroom & History of Photography, College of Lake Country | Grayslake, Illinois, United States
2012 Yoga Teaching Certification, 200hour, Akasha Yoga Center | Crystal Lake, Illinois, United States
2006 Bachelor Art, Advertising, Illinois Institute of Art | Schaumburg, Illinois, United States
2003 – 2005 Interior Design, Illinois Institute of Art | Schaumburg, Illinois, United States
1993 – 2003 Classical Piano | Byron, Illinois, United States
1990 – 2003 Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Hip-Hop | Ogle County, Illinois, United States
RESIDENCIES
2020 Kerringøy Land Art | Bodø, Norway
2019 UKS/PNEK | Oslo, Norway
2019 Atelier Nord Prosjektrom | Oslo, Norway
2019 Angelot Trélex | Chéserex, Switzerland
2017 Praksis: A Global State of Pareidolia | Oslo, Norway
2017 The Past and the Curious, Praxisfestivalen, DansensHus | Oslo, Norway
AWARDS, DISTINCTIONS & COMMISSIONS
2021 Stage: Isla Mujeres Image Curation | YourDailyPhotograph.com
2021 NIME 2021 Ableton Scholarship | New York University Shanghai, China
2020 Bi-Monthly Semi-Finalist, Dumbo Film Festival | NYC, United States
2019 Ello Getty Images Selected Artist | California, United States
2018 Mushimaru Fujieda, Butoh Scholarship, KHiO | Oslo, Norway
2018 2017 ND Photo Awards, Honourable Mention
2018 Mouvements, Photography, Oslo Art and Fashion Festival, Vérité, Aker Brygge | Oslo, Norway
2018 Vesper Monumenter & Et Dypt Nett, Dual-Site Multimedia Installation, Elvelangs i Fakkellys | Oslo, Norway
2017 Memoria Technika, Multimedia Installation, Oslo Fashion & Art Festival, Lekter’n | Oslo, Norway
2017 Teknovisuell Experience, Permanent Installation, Otis College of Art and Design | Los Angeles, California, United States
2015 Juried 1st Place, Here, There, & Everywhere: Eurasian Cities, Asia Culture Center | Gwangju, South Korea
2015 Woelffer Scholarship, Otis College of Art and Design | Los Angeles, United States
2014 Academic Merit Award, Otis College of Art and Design | Los Angeles, United States
2012 Academic Scholarship, Social Psychology, Ehime University | Matsuyama, Japan
2010 Historic Pathways Photography Award | Indiana University, United States
2003 IMEA Singing Finalist | Ogle County, United States
2003 Pi Sigma Pi, Illinois Academic Honour Society in History | Byron, United States
TEACHING & LECTURES
2020 AiR Kjerringøy, Artist Talk and Teaching (ages 6 – 15) | Kjerringøy, Norway
2020 AWMAS Afjordance Exhibition | Corwin Pavilion, University of California, Santa Barbara
2018 Movement Course | Blank Space Gallery, Oslo, Norway
2017 Body Architecture Course | Barnas Open House, Sentralen, Oslo, Norway
2013 – 2015 Graduate Teaching Assistant | Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, California
2014 Subtle Energy & Colour: Bodily Perception & Visual Stimulation, Artist Talk | Otis, Culver City, California
2013 The Personal & Universal, Artist Talk | Walker Point Center for the Arts, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
2011 – 2013 Yoga/Movement Instructor | Greater Chicagoland Area
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES
2011 – now Instructor | Movement, art, photo, critical thinking | International
2008 – 2021 Creative Developer & Producer | Photo & Video, Writing & Editing, Frontend Development & Collateral Design, Events | International
2016 – 2021 LensCulture | Art Photography Reviews | Online
2016 – 2017 Graduate & Undergrad Admissions Counselor | Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, California
2012 – 2016 Photographer | 22nd Century Media | North Shore Chicago, Illinois
2012 – 2013 Gallery Manager and Events | College of Lake County | Grayslake, Illinois
2012 – 2012 Gallery Assistant and Framer | ZIA Gallery | Winnetka, Illinois
2008 – 2010 Author of The Art of Advice | Chicago Now, a Tribune Co. | Chicago, Illinois
2009 – 2012 Copywriter | Creative Circle, Momentum Worldwide, Marketing Support Inc. | Chicago, Illinois
2006 – 2009 Graphic Design and Print Production | Alphagraphics, Freelance | Chicago, Illinois
2004 – 2006 Library Assistant | Illinois Institute of Art | Schaumburg, Illinois
2002 – 2003 Administrative Assistant | State Farm Insurance | Oregon, Illinois
1996 – 2004 Dishwasher, Food Preparation & Delivery, Pet and Home Caretaker, Childcare, Retail Sales, Barista
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2019 Mouvements (Bevegelsene), Photography | Akers Mek, Aker Brygge, Oslo, Norway
2019 Over the Stream Bed a Body Formed in Light Refracted in Waves | Torso Kunstartikler, Oslo, Norway
2019 Magenta Minds & Amber Hearts | Trance& Bernt Ankers Gate 31, Oslo, Norway
2018 Mouvements (Bevegelsene), Photography, Oslo Art and Fashion Festival | Aker Brygge, Oslo, Norway
2018 Vesper Monumenter & Et Dypt Nett, Dual-Site Multimedia Installation, Elvelangs i Fakkellys | Oslo, Norway
2017 Memoria Technika, Multimedia Installation, Oslo Fashion & Art Festival | Aker Brygge, Oslo, Norway
2017 Teknovisuell Experience, Installation | Otis, Los Angeles, California, United States
2015 Image Architecture, Installation | Otis Studios, Los Angeles, California, United States
2015 Making Sense, Installation | Bolsky Gallery, Los Angeles, California, United States
2010 Not Even But Almost, Photography | The Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, Illinois, United States
2008 Photographs of Chicago | Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce, Chicago, Illinois, United States
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2021 4th Edition Les Voyagers, Blåtime Sol Video | Tunis, North Africa
2021 The Midwest (aquarelle), Y Blokk (sculpture), Trøndelag Bildene Kunstneres Annual Exhibition | Trondheim, Norway
2021 Body Line and Blåtime Sol, Screening, The World We Live In | Groningen, Netherlands
2021 Solfége Souche Screening | Paris, France
2020 Affordable Art Fair | Represented by Albumen Gallery, London, U.K.
2020 Windows Into The Virtual, Teknovisuell Experience, Photography | LoosenArt, Rome, Italy
2020 The Performer, Solfége Souche, Video Projection | LoosenArt, Millepiani, Rome, Italy
2020 Kvinnekroppen, Afjordance, Video Projection | Arteriet, Kristiansand, Norway
2020 Afjordance, Video Projection, AWMAS 2020 | Santa Barbara, California, United States
2019 Heat Wave, Photography | Online Exhibition, Artsy.net
2019 Solfége Souche, Video Projection | Czong Institute for Contemporary Art (CICA), Gyeonggi-do, Korea
2019 Feel the Burn, Photography | MIM gallery, Los Angeles, California, United States
2019 Mouvements Active Wear Samples | Trance& Bernt Ankers Gate 31, Oslo, Norway
2019 Damocles, Sculpture, Elemental Kate Exhibition | Yorkshire Artspace, Sheffield, UK
2019 Oslo Open, Photography | Fotogalleriet Atelier, Oslo, Norway
2019 Les Voyagers, Photography | Nout Art Gallery, 12A Marrashly St. Zamalek, Cairo, Egypt
2019 Solfége Souche, Video Projection | Palazzo Michiel, Strada Nova, Venice, Italy
2018 Photographs, TID (time) | CYAN Studio, Oslo, Norway
2018 Paintings, Finnskogutstillingen | Grue Finnskog, Norway
2018 Wave, Photograph, Benefit Auction | Rockford University, United States
2017 Recent Work, PopUp Exhibition | Majorstuen, Oslo, Norway
2017 Ex Nihilo, Monolithic Images | La Macina Di San Cresci, Greve in Chianti, Florence, Italy
2017 Limerence, Paintings and Performance | Olaf Reyes Plass 2, Grünerløkka, Oslo, Norway
2017 9Worlds of Image and Light, Installation | Elvelangs i Fakkellys, Smelteverksted, Oslo, Norway
2017 PraksisOslo Kulturnatt, Photography | Rådhusgata 19, Oslo, Norway
2016 Now Trending, 30seconds of Lake Michigan, Photography | Palos Verdes Art Center, California, United States
2016 Omniscient, Image and Text, Here, There, Everywhere: Eurasian Cities | ACC, Gwangju, South Korea
2015 On The Roof, Installation | Bolsky Gallery, Los Angeles, California, United States
2014 Variations of a Whole, Photography | Bolsky Gallery, Los Angeles, California, United States
2014 PhotoLA, Photography | LA Mart, Los Angeles, California, United States
2013 DC Fotoweek, Photobook | Washington DC, United States
2013 Robert T. Wright Gallery, Paintings | College of Lake County, Grayslake, Illinois, United States
2012 Liminal Metanoia, Photography | 2Rules Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
2012 My Own Wilderness, Exhibition & Publication curated by Christopher Paquette
2011 Not Even But Almost, Photography | Defibrillator Performance Art Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, United States
2011 Not Even But Almost, Image Projection | Bristol, UK
2011 Life Support Japan, Photography | Wall-Space Gallery, California, United States
2011 Contemporary Portraits by Women Photographers | Northern Trust Bank, Chicago, Illinois, United States
2010 90,000 Miles on I-90, Book, CCNY Exhibition | New York, New York, United States
2010 Slideluck Potshow IV, Image Projection | Chicago, Illinois, United States
2010 Portrait Illustration | Johalla Projects Gallery, 50 Alderman/50 Artists, Chicago, Illinois, United States
2010 Photographs from Jamaica | LiveBooks Impact Exhibition, Online
2009 Slideluck Potshow III, Image Projection | Chicago, Illinois, United States
2009 Docks, Photograph | CreateHere Gallery, Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States
2000 Depths of Imagination, Mixed-Media | Rockford Art Museum, Rockford, Illinois, United States
1999 The Field’s Project, Land Art Viewable by Air | Oregon, Illinois, United States
PUBLICATIONS
2020 Frame Story
2020 Textures & Movements
2014 Bound by Water; Spread
2012 Espla
2010 90,000 miles on I-90
MEDIA & PRESS
Artsy Profile & Feature | The Wall Pick of the Month | Articulate Magazine | Hauste Magazine | Fletta Magazine | LHSA Member Spotlight | King Goya Travel Magazine | Art Muzeo Magazine Issue 3 | Barbed Magazine Issue 5 | Art Photo Index | Water Poetry Prose | Humble Arts Foundation | Lenscratch Feature: Bound By Water | Majestic Disorder Magazine | Cover VIA Publication 02 Issue, | A New Nothing| The Swap I , II, III / Book Film Painting | 10-Q Interview, Hungry Ghost Collective | E-PhotoReview, Fly Over Art | Humble Arts Foundation | Lenscratch: Backyard, Mother’s Day | La Pura Vida- 90000 Miles on I-90 | Sweet Station | Fraction Magazine | Fine Line Magazine | Urbanautica | Lost At E Minor | Actual Colors May Vary, Feature II | Chicago Magazine | New Landscape Photography | Landscape Stories 1, 2, 3 | Beautiful/Decay Magazine 1, 2 | F-Stop Magazine 40, 35, 45 | BlackFlash Magazine | 1000 Words
INTERESTS
Photography and Imaging, Textile Arts, Canonical Chinese Medicine, Fung Shui, Embodied Cognition, Physiology, Psychology, Behavioural Development, Free Will, Geological History, Art Education
ARTIST IMAGES
Pictures for use public use and print publications. Contact for use: rachel@rachelwolfe.com
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