Rachel Downey
The work of contemporary New Zealand-based mixed media artist Rachel Downey goes beyond aesthetics. Following an incident in 2012 that resulted in permanent nerve damage and the inability to continue to run her business, Rachel now uses art as a therapeutic process for expressing and exploring her emotions.
“I express my feelings through imagery and work out my ongoing frustrations living with physical pain, depression and anxiety.”
The energy and tempo of music affect her process as she works. Automatic, sweeping gestural marks are vigorously applied to her chosen substrate, followed by considered use of shape and line. The resulting method produces captivating abstract visual interpretations of the artist’s psyche.
Mostly self-taught, Rachel has also undertaken formal training in painting, drawing, life drawing, charcoal drawing, illustration and print-making at the Browne School of Art.
Rachel currently resides in Auckland, New Zealand and is available for commission upon request.