Meet Rachel
Painter Rachel Grant explores the natural world and our atmosphere through studying and depicting clouds. Rachel is known for her sweeping paintings that depict the environment, free from human presence. Her painting style is influenced by the post-impressionist landscape painters who were inspired by the landscape of the south of France. Rachel adapts these ideals to contemporary painting in the Southeastern United States. Clouds over landscapes are a recurring theme in her work. Rachel’s painting style is expressionistic with bold brush strokes and emphasis on the artist’s present hand.
An Atlanta native, Rachel is a former studio resident at the Goat Farm Arts Center and currently works from her home studio. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Art with a Psychology minor from Auburn University and is a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design [SCAD] earning an M.F.A. in Painting and M.A. in Arts Administration. Rachel has exhibited throughout the United States, in France and completed a residency at the Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts in New York City. She was selected as an Art on the Atlanta BeltLine artist and her artwork is included in private and corporate collections including Hotels by Hilton and Sotherly hotels.
When she is not creating or teaching art, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, baby girl and their rescue dog.
Artist Statement
Born into an artistic family, I have been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember. As a student, my first oil painting was a master copy of “Field of Poppies” by Claude Monet. Nearly a decade later I studied painting in the south of France, plein air painting in the very same landscapes as my art historical heroes. I have explored many techniques of artmaking but always find myself returning to my original love of oil painting scenes of nature. Over the last five years, my work has focused on cloudscape painting. Clouds over landscapes are a recurring theme in my work. Painting from life allows me to capture the ever-transient nature of cloud formation and movement, the paintings become an abstraction of the present moment. In a time when digital painting is on the rise and we constantly engage with sleek technological interfaces, creating work that shows the artist’s presence is important to me. The finished artworks are often borderline abstract, allowing viewers room for personal interpretation. My goal as an artist is to capture the beauty of nature and create artwork that can be contemplated and enjoyed for generations.
Interviews
Exhibition Record
SOLO EXHIBITON RECORD
Circle Gallery “Natural Engagement: Where Earth Meets Sky”, Athens, GA, 2021
Brickworks Gallery “Amorphous: Cloudscape Paintings by Rachel Evans”, Atlanta, GA, 2018
Hall Street Gallery “There She Is.” Savannah, GA, February 2011
WonderRoot non-profit arts organization gallery. Atlanta, GA, June 2008
DUAL EXHIBITON RECORD
Art Rise “Tell Us Where We Are” Savannah, GA. November 2013
MINT Gallery Atlanta, GA. May 2008
GROUP EXHIBITON RECORD
IDEA Gallery “Art Party”, Chamblee, GA. 2018
Fieldwork Projects “Alumni Exhibition”, Auburn, AL. 2017
Swan Coach House Gallery “Little Things Mean a Lot”, Atlanta, GA. 2017
MINT “EngageMINT”, Atlanta, GA. 2017.
Gutstein Gallery “On the Move”, Savannah, GA. 2017
Swan Coach House Gallery “Little Things Mean a Lot”, Atlanta, GA. 2016
IDEA Gallery “One Year Anniversary Exhibition”, Chamblee, GA. 2016
Atlas Restaurant at the St. Regis Atlanta, Atlanta, GA. 2016
OTP Gallery “Lumen Artist Collective”, Marietta, GA. 2016
The Goat Farm Arts Center “Open Studio”, Atlanta, GA. March 2016
FORM and Context “High Point Market Pop- Up Gallery” High Point, NC. April 2011
SCAD Gallery “Year of the Rabbit.” Hong Kong, China. January 2011
Mr. Beast “Giant Monster Terror.” Savannah, GA. January 2011
Gustein Gallery “Small Works Exhibition.” Savannah, GA. December 2010
The Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts “Open Studio.” New York, NY. August 2010
Pinnacle Gallery “SCAD Painting: Expressions of Application.” Savannah, GA. July 2010
EO Gallery “Out of the Fire: Annual Ceramics Student Juried Show.” Savannah, GA. May 2010
Alexander Hall “SCAD Open Studio.” Savannah, GA. May 2010
Gustein Gallery “Small Works Exhibition.” Savannah, GA. December 2009
Alexander Hall “SCAD Open Studio.” Savannah, GA. November 2009
Galerie Phriem. Lacoste, France. July 2009
Underground Atlanta “Split Level”. Atlanta. GA. May 2009
John’s Creek Art Center. “Modern Art for Modern Times.” John’s Creek, GA. March 2009
Blue Gallery “Vernaissage.” Lacoste, France. March 2009
SCAD Atlanta “Open Studio.” Atlanta, GA. November 2008
Biggin Gallery “2007 Juried Student Exhibition and Roger and Joyce Lethander Awards In Art.” Auburn
University, AL. Spring 2007; Juror: Paula Katz, Assistant Curator of Art, The Columbus Museum;
Awarded Joyce and Roger Lethander Achievement Award
Biggin Gallery “Auburn University Fine Arts Week Exhibition.” Auburn, AL. Spring 2006
Biggin Gallery “2006 Juried Student Exhibition and Roger and Joyce Lethander Awards in Art.” Auburn
University, AL. Spring 2006; Juror: Stuart Horodner, Director of Programs, Atlanta Contemporary Art
Center; Awarded Joyce and Roger Lethander Purchase Award
Biggin Gallery “2005 Juried Student Exhibition and Roger and Joyce Lethander Awards in Art.” Auburn University, AL. Spring 2005; Juror: Jerry Cullum, Senior Editor, “Art Papers” Magazine
LIVE PAINTING PERFORMANCE
Atlanta Streets Alive “Streets Alive West Side”, Atlanta, GA. June 2018
Brickworks Gallery “Live Painting with Rachel Evans” Atlanta, GA. May 2018
The Atlanta BeltLine “Art on the BeltLine”, Atlanta, GA. September 2017
Brickworks Gallery “Live Painting with Rachel Evans” Atlanta, GA. June 2017
Ponce City Market “Metro Atlanta Chamber ATLeaders” Atlanta, GA. May 2016
PUBLIC ART
Cultural Arts Council of Douglasville/ Douglas County “Love Where You Live" Public Art Project, "Douglasville Together: Sharing the Beauty of Nature", Atlanta, GA. September 2021
Shops of Buckhead "Buckhead Loves Locals", "Buckhead Atlanta" mural, 14'H x 12'W, Atlanta, GA. April, 2019
COLLECTIONS
Hotels by Hilton, Savannah, GA
Sotherly Hotels, Savannah, GA
The Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah and Atlanta, GA
Auburn University, Auburn, AL
COMMISSIONS
“September Wedding” Commission for private residence, 30” x 40” painting, 2020
“Piedmont Sunrise” Commission for private residence, 48” x 60” landscape painting, 2019
“Butterfly Milk” Commission for private residence, 48” x 72” cloudscape painting, 2018
“Jackson Lake” Commission for private residence, 18” x 24” cloudscape painting, 2017
CURATED EXHIBITION RECORD
“Sites and Structures”, Gallery 100 at EYP Architecture and Engineering, Atlanta, GA 2020
“Lumen Artist Collective”, OTP Gallery, Marietta, GA, 2016
“Contemporary Women: Self Reflections”, Arts for All Gallery at VSA of Georgia, Atlanta, GA, 2009; held in conjunction with Atlanta Celebrates Photography