Rachel Wolfe (b. 1984, USA) is an artist working with representing Becoming and Form. Drawing upon influences from Surrealism, Art Nouveau, and Modern Japanese Ceramics, Wolfe uses the apparatus of photography directly and as a proxy for representing memory phenomena through mediums of image, performance, and multi-media sensory installations. Bodies of water, nature terrain, technology, invisible labor, and a humanist relationship to environment are reoccurring themes in her work.
Born along the Rock River and raised in the rural midwest near a nuclear power station, Rachel trained in dance, piano, and voice. She began working with cameras and drawing while studying Interior Design and Advertising, earning a Bachelor of Art in 2006. While working for 6 years in Chicagoland as a creative producer writing copy, designing, photographing for clients and local newspapers, working in galleries, she continued practice in movement and images, making books, zines, and small scale temporary works.
She studied Social Psychology in Japan and photography at the College of Lake County where she worked before moving to Los Angeles for studies in Studio Art and Theory, working as a teaching assistant and earning a Master of Fine Art in 2015.
She moved to Norway where she lives and works as an artist, writer, photographer, and performer.
Education
| 2015 | MFA, Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CA |
| 2014 | Social Psychology, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan |
| 2006 | BA – Advertising, Illinois Institute of Art, Schaumburg, IL |
| 2003 | Interior Design, Illinois Institute of Art, Schaumburg, IL |
Awards, Grants & Scholarships
| 2018 | Butoh Workshop Scholarship, The National Academy for The Arts, Oslo, Norway |
| 2015 | First Place by the Jury, Imagining New Eurasia, Asia Culture Center, South Korea |
| 2015 | Woelffer Scholarship, Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CA |
| 2014 | Academic Merit Award, Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CA |
| 2013 | Academic Scholarship, Sociology Study at Ehime University in Matsuyama, Japan |
| 2009 | Indiana Pathways Historic Contest Winner, Indiana University |
Selected Solo Exhibitions
| 2018 | Et Dypt Nett, image sculpture and light installation, Elvelangs i Fakkellys, Smelteverksted, Vulkan, Oslo, Norway |
| 2018 | Vesper Monumenter, sculpture and video projection installation Elvelangs i Fakkellys, Frysja i Bydel Nodre Aker, Oslo, Norway |
| 2018 | Bevegelsene, photography, Oslo Art and Fashion Festival, Vérité, Aker Brygge, Oslo, Norway |
| 2017 | Stop Bath, multimedia installation, Lekter’n, Oslo Art & Fashion Festival, Aker Brygge, Oslo, Norway |
| 2017 | Teknovisuell Experience, public installation, Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CA |
| 2017 | Teknovisuell Experience, public installation, Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CA |
| 2015 | Operations of Image Architecture, installation, Graduate Studios, Los Angeles, CA |
| 2015 | Making Sense, installation, Bolsky Gallery, Los Angeles, CA |
| 2010 | Not Even But Almost, photography exhibition, The Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, IL |
Selected Group Exhibitions
| 2018 | Photographs from Surreal Landscapes, Tid (time), CYAN Studio, Oslo, Norway |
| 2018 | Paintings from Flat Bottom Boat project,Finnskogutstillingen, Grue Finnskog, Norway |
| 2018 | Black and white darkroom wave photograph, Benefit Auction, Rockford University, Rockford, Illinois, United States |
| 2017 | Recent Works and Jul Pop-Up, 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 residency show, Rådhusgata 19, Oslo, Norway |
| 2016 | Palos Verdes Art Center, Palos Verdes, CA |
| 2015-2016 | Here, There, and Everywhere: Eurasian Cities, Asia Culture Center, Gwangju, South Korea |
| 2015 | On the roof, Bolsky Gallery, Los Angeles, CA |
| 2014 | Variations of a Whole, Bolsky Gallery, Los Angeles, CA |
| 2014 | PhotoLA, LA Mart, CA |
| 2013 | DC Fotoweek, Washington DC |
| 2013 | Robert T. Wright Gallery, College of Lake County, Grayslake, IL |
| 2012 | 2Rules Gallery, Atlanta, GA |
| 2012 | My Own Wilderness, Exhibition & Publication |
| 2011 | Not even but almost, Defibrillator Performance Art Gallery, Chicago, IL |
| 2011 | Not even but almost, Digital projection of images, Bristol, United Kingdom |
| 2011 | Life Support Japan, Wall-Space Gallery, CA |
| 2011 | Contemporary Portraits by women photographers, Northern Trust Bank, Chicago, IL |
| 2010 | 90,000 Miles on I-90 book included in CCNY Exhibition, New York, NY |
| 2010 | Illustrated drawing, Johalla Projects Gallery, 50 Alderman/50 Artists, Chicago, IL |
| 2009 | Slideluck Potshow III, digital image projection, Chicago, IL |
| 2009 | Docks photograph, CreateHere Gallery, Chatanooga, Tennessee |
| 2008 | Contemporary photographs of Chicago, Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce, Chicago, IL |
| 1999 | The Field’s Project, land design and sculpture, view-able by air, Oregon, IL |
Residencies
| 2018 | Butoh Workshop Scholarship with Mushimaru Fujieda, The National Academy for The Arts, Oslo, Norway |
| 2017 | A Global State of Pareidolia with Lindsay Seers, PRAKSISOslo, Rådhusgate and NOTAM, Oslo, Norway |
| 2017 | PRAKSIS Oslo: A Global State of Pareidolia |
Publications
| 2014 | Bound by Water |
| 2014 | Spread |
| 2012 | Espla |
| 2010 | 90,000 miles on I-90 |