Rachel Rothwell
Artist and Educator
ARTIST STATEMENT:
My work examines the process of self definition, looking at the external factors that can influence us as we try to make sense of who we are. People, places and possessions are used to present a calculated image of ourselves to the world, and questioning who we are outside of this is the focal point of my observations.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
June 2023: Group Exhibition, How to build an oerlikon dream house / Wie baut mer es oerliker Traumhus, Oerlikon, Zurich.
July 2021: Public Installation, Clonmel Junction Arts Festival 2021, Clonmel, Tipperary.
October 2020: Featured Artist, CIACLA (Contemporary Irish Arts Centre Los Angeles) Online Programme 2020, CIACLA Centre, Los Angeles.
July 2020: Group Exhibition, Narrating the New Normal, Birr Vintage Week, Offaly.
May 2020: Group Exhibition, RENAISSANCE : vision du monde post COVID-19, EMA Art et Terroir, Geneva.
June 2019: Degree show, Le Grand Tour, MFA TRANS, HEAD Genève, Geneva.
April 2019: Group Exhibition, Entrelacs, LiveInYourHead, Geneva, Switzerland.
January 2019: Group Exhibition, Je Grandirai Demain, Villa Dutoit, Geneva, Switzerland.
June 2018: Group Exhibition, Carnets, Halle Nord, Geneva, Switzerland.
April 2018: Solo Exhibition, Voyages en Suspension, Ardentis, Geneva.
August 2017: Joint Exhibition, 'Co.' with Agniezka Robak, Husk Creative Space, London, UK.
April 2017: Solo Exhibition, Rachel Rothwell, Loft A46, Montreux, Switzerland.
November 2016: Group Exhibition, Neon X, Inspire Galerie, Dublin, Ireland.
November 2016: Group Exhibition, Jingled & Haihatus, Haihatus Art Centre, Finland.
October 2016: Joint Exhibition, A Sense of Home, St. Iberius Church, Wexford, Ireland.
June 2016: Group Exhibition, e.P.O.C.H. An Effect, Athenry.
April 2016: Solo Exhibition, Arise and Go, Inspire Gallery, Dublin.
May 2015: Group Exhibition, What Land and Country Is This?, Garter Lane Arts Centre, Waterford.
November 2014: Members' Exhibition, Exhibiton 6, Daejeon Arts Collective, Jung-gu Cultural Centre, Daejeon.
May 2014: Members' Exhibition, Made in Korea, Daejeon Arts Collective, Wooyeon Gallery, Eunhang-dong, Daejeon.
March 2014: Group Exhibition, Line/Direction, Yogiga Gallery, Hongdae, Seoul.
February 2013: Group Exhibition, Thou Art to Me a Delicious Torment, The Sweet Shop Gallery, Rosslare, Co. Wexford.
RESIDENCIES, AWARDS AND BURSARIES:
Limerick City Gallery of Art Virtual TEST SPACE Residency 2022
Arts Council of Ireland Agility Award, 2021
Creative Ireland & Wexford County Council Artist Bursary Recipient, 2020-2021
WORK EXPERIENCE:
CURATION:
Entrelacs (Group Exhibition, LiveInYourHead, Geneva, April 2019)
Curated an exhibition exploring socially-engaged art with MA class, managing the project from start to finish. This included liasing with the venue, installing the artwork, planning and promoting a week-long programme of public events.
FACILITATION:
Resident Artist at St George’s NHS Hospital (London, 2022)
Resident Artist for Spring Term in 2022. This involved closely liaising with the Arts at St George’s team as well as hospital staff in order to imagine and facilitate a range of activities that were exciting and engaging for patients, family members and the wider hospital community; while taking in to account the sanitary requirements of a hospital ward and the complex work staff are undertaking around you. My aim was to briefly lift participants out of their environment by focusing on the nature to be found in the hospital environs and using a variety of skills and materials to help participants try something new.
Living Arts Project (Wexford, 2020- 2022)
Lead Artist for 2021-2022 Edition. Worked alongside Bríd Colloton at Scoil Mhuire Coolcotts in Wexford town. Devised an 8 week project based around food and material, exploring how the world around us is put together and what can be created from natural materials. Work exhibited at school in April 2022.
Assistant artist to Kate Murphy. Worked with St Joseph’s NS in Gorey. 8 week art project designed to invtroduce contemporary art in a primary school setting. Online exhibition of student artwork was held in April 2021.
Les Recontres (Red Cross Day Centre for Migrants, Geneva, 2017-2019)
As part of the artist collective RSVP, ran a participatory art project for the centre. Using objects as a vector, we held storytelling workshops, finding common ground across our many cultures and experiences. These stories were transformed into a sound installation, highlighting these individuals as more than their legal status.
Dessiner: Activer (MA Project, 2017-2019)
Collaborated with Conscious Kitchen Den Haag, a community-led, anti-food waste initiative based in Holland over the course of 12 months. I ran a series of drawing & discussion workshops during their events, resulting in a publication entitled ‘Gezellig’.
Also ran a participatory art workshop with a group of 6th class students in Tinahely Art Club. Discussing the concepts of community and shared spaces while drawing, we built a visual dictionary to support our discussion which was printed and returned to each student.
ARTS ADMINISTRATION:
Arturst Gallery (Zurich, Switzerland, 2023)
Gallery Assistant
As Gallery Assistant, I enjoyed a polyvalent role in our Zurich branch. I welcomed visitors, advised clients and organised events including gallery tours and talks. I assisted with exhibition installation, expanding our Zurich network and aided my colleagues with proof-reading and copywriting as part of a small, well-knit team.
Loft A46 (Montreux, Switzerland, 2017)
Secretary of Artist Association
In 2017 I held the post of secretary at Loft A46. I took meeting minutes, managed internal and external communications, updated the website content and assisted with social media and event promotion. I also managed enquired, liaised with visiting artists and musicians, and helped with practical tasks such as installing and invigilating exhibitions.
Origin Gallery (Dublin, Ireland, Oct 2012 – Apr 2013)
Gallery Intern
Assisting with the day to day running of the gallery, hanging of exhibitions, correspondence, dealing with queries and enquiries, helping with exhibitions, making sales, arranging collection and deliveries, helping with publicity and fundraising events.
Also put in charge of participation in the Wool House Exhibition in Somerset House, London in 2013. Contacted a range of artists associated with the gallery and their sister project in Kerry, Cill Rialaig. Helped select the final 24 artists chosen to paint a picture for the tableau we put in the exhibition, then sent them their canvases and organised their return. Chose their final arrangement, organised for them to be sent to London and hung in the gallery there correctly. I also designed the accompanying poster showing the artists' details and information on Origin and Cill Rialaig.
PEDAGOGY:
Institut Monte Rosa (Montreux, Switzerland, June 2015 - June 2017)
English and Art Teacher
Designing and implementing a comprehensive English and Art curriculum appropriate to the students' levels, assessing their needs in the classroom and creating an environment where they feel comfortable enough to express their views and think creatively. Identifying any points where students may need extra help and ensuring they get the additional support they need.
EDUCATION:
MFA (Hons) TRANS (Art, Education, Engagement)
Haute École d’Art et de Design de Genève
Geneva, Switzerland (Sep 2017 – June 2019)
BA (Hons) Product Design (ceramics)
Limerick School Of Art And Design
Limerick, Ireland (Sep 2008 – Nov 2012)
Erasmus Semester (Study Abroad)
École Supérieure Des Beaux-Arts De Nantes Métropole
Nantes, France (Sep 2010 – Jan 2011)
LANGUAGES:
English (Native), French (C1), Italian (B2), German (A2)
SKILLS:
Art Education, Coordination, Arts Administration, Installation, Curation, Ceramics, Product Design, Drawing, Fine Art, Illustration, Lesson Planning, Mixed Media, Sculpture, Adobe Creative Suite.
PUBLICATIONS:
‘Talking Out Loud’, digital publication funded by Arts Council of Ireland Agility Award, published December 2021.
'Etymology of a Dream', Sublimation Pressworks, published December 2016.
'Rachel Rothwell' Interview, Taidelaitos Haihatus, published July 21st, 2016.
http://en.haihatus.fi/blog/2016/07/21/11487
'Catching up with Rachel Rothwell' Interview, Daejeon Arts Collective, published February 29th, 2016.
https://djartsco.org/2016/02/29/catching-up-with-rachel-rothwell/
'The Meaning of Home Changes When We Move Abroad' Article, The Irish Times, published April 2016, Ireland.
http://goo.gl/oosgtK
'Interview with Rachel Rothwell', Interview, (B)racket Magazine, September 2014, S. Korea.