Photo: Børge Indergaard
Biography.
Rachel Wolfe lives in Norway and works internationally on public and private projects in art, movement, and communications. Her interests in anthropogeny, obscured histories, and the ways humans relate with nature are reflected in meditative images, installations, and mixed-media artworks. Her process is based on the ways Place makes a people and the materiality of the Image. Elements such as water, terrain, texture, and movement are exploited to create allegories. Rachel’s award winning work is held in private and public collections, including 1st place by the jury for her monolithic image and text, Omniscient, in the Imaging New Eurasia exhibition in Gwangju, South Korea.
Member: Norske Billedkunstnere, UKS, LHSA
Representation: Albumen Gallery, UK, The Print Ateliér, Canada, Singular Art, France
Clients: BBC, Getty, Nordre Aker Bydel, Smelteverket, Ekebergparken, Boffi Studio, Open House Oslo, 22nd Century Media, Outdoor Illinois, Jesse Bornstein and PXS Architecture
Autobiography.
(Born 1984, Dixon, Illinois) Due to living with synesthesia, I see the world in many layers and colours. Sight may mingle with sound, taste with touch. My art expresses the ways I connect with nature and the world around me. Moving to Norway and surviving auto-immune disease were catalysts in my work. These experiences gave me unique opportunities to study relationships between biology, physiology, psychology, and toxicology. The sciences created a foundation for my work as a movement and meditation instructor and for the patterns emerging in my art over time. I found scientific methods used in recording resonances and terrestrial movements to use in making my artwork. The structures of understanding in science gave me a sense of comfort about my perceptual experiences with synesthesia. While I use long walks to inform decisions in the art I create, two immersions in landscape changed my approach to art: a swim in the black bottomed lake, Ånøya, and sapphire twilight in Lofoten. These experiences altered my understanding of the Formless and moved me to create art more directly felt with the body. While I still make visual art, my experiences within landscapes and synesthesia have turned me toward utilising traditions in performance and textile. My reverence for nature, is brought forth in the relationship of psychology and senses of Place. A complete story is available by clicking this text.
Professional Resume | Artist CV follows:
Solo Exhibitions.
2019 Mouvement, Photography, Akers Mek, Aker Brygge, Oslo, Norway
2019 A Stream Body Formed, Torso Kunstartikler, Oslo, Norway
2019 Magenta Minds & Amber Hearts, Trance& Bernt Ankers Gate 31, Oslo, Norway
2018 Mouvement, Photography, Oslo Art and Fashion Festival, Vérité, Aker Brygge, Oslo, Norway
2018 Et Dypt Nett, Installation, Elvelangs i Fakkellys, Smelteverksted, Vulkan, Oslo, Norway
2018 Vesper Monumenter, Sculpture and Video Installation, Elvelangs i Fakkellys, Nordre Aker, Oslo, Norway
2017 Memoria Technika Photography, Stop Bath Video, Oslo Fashion & Art Festival, Lekter’n, Aker Brygge, Oslo, Norway
2017 Teknovisuell Experience, Installation, Otis College of Art and Design, 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 Contemporary Photographs of Chicago, Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Group Exhibitions.
2020 The Performer, showing Solfege Souche, LoosenArt, Rome, Italy
2020 Kvinnekroppen, Arteriet, Kristiansand, Norway
2020 Afjordance, video projection, AWAMS 2020, Santa Barbara, California, United States
2019 Heat Wave, The Print Atelier @Artsy.net
2019 Solfége Souche, Czong Institute for Contemporary Art (CICA), Gyeonggi-do, Korea
2019 Feel the Burn, Pøst Kamikazee Edition, MIM gallery, Los Angeles, California, United States
2019 Art-It, Trance& Bernt Ankers Gate 31, Oslo, Norway
2019 Damocles, Sculpture, Elemental Kate Exhibition, Yorkshire Artspace, Sheffield, UK
2019 Oslo Open, Fotogalleriet Atelier, Oslo, Norway
2019 Les Voyagers, Nout Art Gallery, 12A Marrashly St. Zamalek, Cairo, Egypt
2019 Solfége Souche, Palazzo Michiel, Strada Nova, Venezia, Italy
2018 Photographs from Surreal Landscapes, Tid (time) CYAN Jubiliem, CYAN Studio, Oslo, Norway
2018 Paintings, Finnskogutstillingen, Grue Finnskog, Norway
2018 Wave, Photograph, Benefit Auction, Rockford University, Rockford, Illinois, United States
2017 Paintings and Photography, PopUp Exhibition, Majorstuen, Oslo, Norway
2017 Ex Nihilo, 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, Elvelangs i Fakkellys, Smelteverksted, Vulkan, Oslo, Norway
2017 PraksisOslo Kulturnatt, Rådhusgata 19, Oslo, Norway
2016 30seconds of Lake Michigan, Now Trending at Palos Verdes Art Center, Palos Verdes, California, United States
2016 Omniscient, Here, There, and Everywhere: Eurasian Cities, Asia Culture Center, ACC Creation, in Gwangju, South Korea
2015 On The Roof, Bolsky Gallery, Los Angeles, California, United States
2014 Variations of a Whole, Bolsky Gallery, Los Angeles, California, United States
2014 PhotoLA, LA Mart, Los Angeles, California, United States
2013 DC Fotoweek, Washington DC, United States
2013 Robert T. Wright Gallery, College of Lake County, Grayslake, Illinois, United States
2012 2Rules Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
2012 My Own Wilderness, Exhibition & Publication organized by Christopher Paquette
2011 Not Even But Almost, Defibrillator Performance Art Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, United States
2011 Not Even But Almost, Photography screening- digital projection of images, Bristol, UK
2011 Life Support Japan, 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 included in CCNY Exhibition, New York, New York, United States
2010 Slideluck Potshow IV, Chicago, Illinois, United States
2010 Illustrated drawing, Johalla Projects Gallery, 50 Alderman/50 Artists, Chicago, Illinois, United States
2010 Photographs from Jamaica, LiveBooks Impact Exhibition, Online
2009 Slideluck Potshow III, Chicago, Illinois, United States
2009 Docks photograph, CreateHere Gallery, Chatanooga, Tennessee, United States
2000 Depths of Imagination Mixed-Media, Rockford Art Museum, Rockford, Illinois, United States
1999 The Field’s Project, land design and field sculpture, viewable by air, Oregon, Illinois, United States
Awards & Residencies.
2021 (planned) Banditto Residency | Florence, Italy
2020 Bi-Monthly Semi-Finalist, Dumbo Film Festival | NYC, United States
2019 UKS/PNEK Residency | Oslo, Norway
2019 Atelier Nord Prosjektrom | Oslo, Norway
2019 Ello Getty Images Selected Artist | California, United States
2019 Angelot Trélex Residency | Chéserex, Switzerland
2018 Mushimaru Fujieda Butoh Scholarship, KHiO | Oslo, Norway
2018, 2017 ND Photo Awards, Honourable Mention
2017 PRAKSIS Residency: A Global State of Pareidolia | Oslo, Norway
2017 The Past and the Curious, Praxisfestivalen, DansensHus | Oslo, Norway
2015 Juried 1st Place, Here, There, and 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
2013 Academic Scholarship, Social Psychology, Ehime University | Matsuyama, Japan
2010 Historic Pathways Photography Award | Indiana University, United States
2003 Pi Sigma Pi, Illinois Academic Honour Society in History | Byron, United States
Teaching.
2018 Movement Workshop | Blank Space Gallery, Oslo, Norway
2017 Body Architecture | Barnas Open House, Sentralen, Oslo, Norway
2013 – 2015 Graduate Teaching Assistant | Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, California
2011 – 2013 Yoga/Movement Instructor | Greater Chicagoland Area
Artist Talks.
2020 AWMAS AfjordanceExhibition | Corwin Pavilion, University of California, Santa Barbara
2014 Subtle Energy & Colour: Bodily Perception & Visual Stimulation | Otis Studios, Culver City, California
2013 The Personal & Universal: Social Media & Photography | Walker Point Center for the Arts, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Books.
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
Work Experience.
2016 – 2020 LensCulture | Art Photography Reviews | Online
2008 – 2020 Contractor: Photo and Video, Writing and editing, Graphic and Web Design, Events | International
2016 – 2017 Grad & 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 Founder and Author of The Art of Advice | Chicago Now, a Tribune Co., 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
Education.
2015 Master Fine Art, Otis College of Art and Design | Los Angeles, California, United States
2006 Bachelor Art, Advertising, Illinois Institute of Art | Schaumburg, Illinois, United States
Studies.
2019 Art of Washi Paper in Japanese Rare Books | Online via Keio University, Japan
2018 Sino-Japanese Interactions Through Rare Books | Online via Keio University
2018 Music Moves: Why Does Music Make You Move | Online via UiO
2018 Japanese Avant-Garde | Online via Keio University, Japan
2015 Norwegian Language, Rosenhof Voksenopplæring | Oslo Norway
2013 Social Psychology, Ehime University | Matsuyama-shi, Japan
2012 Darkroom & History of Photography, College of Lake Country | Grayslake, Illinois, United States
2011 – 2012 Yoga Certification, 200hour, Akasha Yoga Center | Crystal Lake, 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 | Various studios in Ogle County, Illinois, United States