photo: Niniane Kelley

photo: Niniane Kelley

BIO

Rachel (b. 1983) began photography while completing her undergraduate degree at Skidmore College, graduating in 2005.  In numerous group and solo exhibitions she has presented a series of projects exploring the photograph as object, often resulting in unique works incorporating a specialized transfer printing technique as well as other processes like encaustic wax and materials ranging from old envelopes to 19th century cabinet cards. A frequent theme in the work is a desire to “reanimate” the vernacular photographs and paper ephemera in her collection by reworking them in a variety of ways to create imagery that is resonant with the past yet has a new vitality and reflection of our own time and perspective.

In addition to photography, Rachel works in the San Francisco Bay Area as a tutor for children with learning differences and as the Executive Director of the community-based nonprofit PhotoAlliance.


CV

SOLO AND TWO-PERSON EXHIBITIONS

2023

Holding Time, SDSU University Gallery, San Diego, CA

2021

Home from the Field, Catherine Couturier Gallery, Houston, TX

2019

Ghost Light Theaters, Catherine Couturier Gallery, Houston, TX

2015

From Time to Time, Catherine Couturier Gallery, Houston, TX

2014

Paper and Silver, exhibition with John Hundt, Jack Fischer Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Vanishing Point, RayKo Artist in Residence Show, RayKo Gallery, San Francisco, CA

2013

Field Notes, Catherine Couturier Gallery, Houston, TX

2012

Field Notes, Patty Look Lewis Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA

 

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2022

The Book as Art V 10: Transformations, Decatur Public Library, GA
MCBA Prize Exhibition, Minnesota Center for the Book, MN

2021

Unbound Ten, Candela Gallery, Richmond, VA
Photography is Dead/Long Live Photography, Candela Gallery, Richmond, VA
Picture in Picture, Casselhaus, NC

A Yellow Rose Project

  • The Faye G., Jo and James Stone Gallery, Boston University

  • Stanier Gallery, Washington and Lee University

2020

8x10, Center for Photographic Art, Carmel, CA
Picture in Picture, Cassilhaus, Chapel Hill, NC
The Altered Image, Miami Design District, Dina Mitrani Gallery, FL

A Yellow Rose Project

  • Boston University

  • University of Indiana

  • Spectra Gallery, University of New Mexico

  • Colorado Photographic Arts Center

  • The Front, New Orleans

  • SugAR Gallery, University of Arkansas

Suffrage Now, Elisabet Ney Musueum, Austin, TX
Safe in the Studio, Catherine Couturier Gallery, Houston TX

2019

Present Objects, Euqinom Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Out of the Dark, Cabrillo Gallery, Aptos, CA
In Memoriam, PennState
Pulse Art Fair, Dina Mitrani Gallery, Miami

2018

Unbound, Candela Books and Gallery, Richmond, VA

2016

Handmade and Heartfelt, Kirkpatrick, DePaul & Phillips, Dina Mitrani Gallery, Miami, FL
Subject to Change, Candela Gallery, Richmond, VA
Photo LA, Gallery 1/1, Los Angeles, CA

2015

Evidence: Seen and Unseen, Gallery 1/1, Seattle, WA
Diffusion Annual, Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins, CO

2014

Wordplay, Panopticon Gallery
Photo Objects, Photo-Eye Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

2013

InFocus Exhibition, Phoenix Museum of Art, Phoenix, AZ
Made at RayKo, San Francisco, CA
Historic Process/Contemporary Visions, Dina Mitrani Gallery, Miami, FL
Unbound2, Candela Gallery, Richmond, VA

2012

Deck the Walls, Catherine Couturier Gallery, Houston, TX
Made at RayKo, RayKo, San Francisco, CA
StoneCrop Gallery with Lindsey Beal and Heidi Kirkpatrick, ME
ArtPad SF at the Phoenix Hotel, Modernbook Gallery
AIPAD NYC, John Cleary Gallery
Processes and Dreams, Panopticon Gallery, Boston, MA

2011

Collect+Connect, San Jose Institute for Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA
ReGeneration, a.Muse Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Life Support Japan, online, Wallspace Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
Fieldnotes, Matre Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Center for Photographic Art Juried Exhibition, Carmel, CA
Across the Divide: Critical Mass Top 50 (PCNW, Seattle, WA; Newspace Center for Photography, Portland, OR; RayKo Photo Center, San Francisco, CA)

2010

Holiday Show, Matre Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Art Miami, Modernbook Gallery, Miami, FL
Por(trait) Revealed, RayKo Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Affordable Art Fair, Modernbook Gallery, New York, NY
Annual Alumni Show, Tang Museum, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY
Los Angeles Art Show, Modernbook Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

2009

Magic in the Mix, PhotoCentral, Hayward, CA
It's Still Life, RayKo Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Fieldwork, Coupa Cosas Gallery, Palo Alto, CA
A River, Gallery One, Nashville, TN

2008/2007

Photography Annual, Filoli Estate, Woodside, California

2006

Spectrum 21: Stanford University, Modernbook Gallery, Palo Alto, CA

2005

Artists' Books: A National Juried Exhibition, University of Nebraska

 

GALLERY AFFILIATION

Catherine Couturier Gallery, Houston, TX

Dina Mitrani Gallery, Miami, FL

Photo-Eye Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

 

BOOKS AND CATALOGS

Photography is Dead/Long Live Photography, Candela Books, 2021

Ghost Light Theaters, Treadwell Press, 2020

Divinations, Treadwell Press, 2015

FIXED, Treadwell Press, 2014

COLLECTIONS

Photographs

Candela Collection
Cassilhaus Collection
Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, University of Oregon
J.P. Morgan Chase

Artists’ Books held in Special Collections

Arizona University
Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (QPL project)
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Harvard University
MassArts
Museum of Fine Arts Houston Special Collections
Mills College
San Diego State University
SFMOMA Library and Archive
Skidmore College (circulating collection)
Smith College
Swarthmore College
Texas Women’s University
University of Colorado, Boulder
University of Iowa
University of Utah
University of Miami
University of Minnesota
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Yale University

SELECT PRINT AND ONLINE PUBLICATIONS

College Book Arts Association, 2021
Don’t Take Pictures, 2018
Harper’s Magazine, 2018
Miami New Times, 2016
InterArtive, article on Fixed, 2015
AIPAD blog, 2014
Don't Take Pictures, 2014
Light Leaked, 2013
Lenscratch, 2013
Huffington Post, 2013
Photo District News, July 2013
LensWork Extended, portfolio and audio interview with Brooks Jensen, 2013
Black and White Magazine UK, feature article by Susan Burnstine, December 2013
Diffusion Magazine, Volume III, 2011
COLOR Magazine Portfolio Issue 10, 2010
LensWork No. 85, Nov/Dec, 2009
Black & White Magazine Issue 60, 2008
American Photo On Campus 10th anniversary issue, March 2007

ARTIST LECTURES

Catherine Couturier Gallery, 2021 (view recording)
Cassilhaus, 2021
Wellesley College, 2020
Center for Photographic Art, Carmel, 2020 (view recording)
Napa Valley College, Napa, 2020
SF Camerawork, San Francisco
PhotoAlliance, San Francisco, 2015
Medium Festival of Photography, San Diego, 2015

AWARDS & TEACHING

Artist In Residence, RayKo, San Francisco, 2014

Gelatin-Transfer Printing Workshop. Have taught workshops in gelatin-transfer printing at PhotoCentral, RayKo and HCP

Critical Mass Top 50, Photolucida, Portland, Oregon, 2010.  Annual international review and contest whereby a jury of curators, critics, gallery owners and publishers select fifty fine art portfolios for award and exhibition from over five-hundred submissions.

EDUCATION, ARTS ADMINISTRATION & PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Administrative Director, PhotoAlliance, 2022-Ongoing

Medium Photo, Board Member and Programs Chair, 2020-0ngoing

San Francisco Camerawork, Board Member and Programming Committee Chair, 2018-2020

Skidmore College, BA, Creative Writing & Visual Art, 2005