Artist in conversation: StreetByStylo
“ My message is all about engaging with the inner child. The voice inside of all of us, telling us to let go, enjoy life, enjoy whats in the here and now and in this very moment.”
Nature is Rachel's muse. Vivid, jubilant colors drive her, dictate her creations, and move her mind in ways only rainbows can do. She dances through her work like a child discovering their first steps, moving with the rhythm of bold intensity, her body shifting with every mark she creates. Every breath she inhales is a collection of colors, meditations of rainbows and beyond. The marks deliver her to an ethereal place where children dance and sing, where fantasies are reality, and love is cultivated around every inch; every corner. Nostalgic memories engulf her brain, inviting her to dance with such passion and expression. Revisiting times of childhood, she taps into her inner child and allows these beautiful creatures and creations to emerge through her and out of her mind. Like an ecstatic explosion bursting out of her, blowing over the paper, over the canvas, and through her very fingers. She enters a state of meditative bliss, and her creative being takes hold of her and everything around it. Rachel invites her viewers to step into her head, her soul, and take a journey of pure energy and ecstasy. She encourages individuals to feel the wild ride through her vibrant color palette and use of repetition of line and form through the composition.
Rachel is an American-German artist and art therapist residing in İzmir, Türkiye. She has worked and exhibited in the USA, South America, SE Asia, Europe, and more. Her work as a psychologist and art therapist landed her in Thailand for 12 years and exhibiting in Japan for 6 years. Her next art adventures will be a 2-week artist residency on the island of Filænver, Norway in July, a group exhibition in Genoa, Italy in July, and the Tokyo International Art Fair in November 2024.
What initially inspired you to become an artist, and how did you develop your unique style?
My inspirations come directly from my childhood. My mother, aunt, and was an artist and grandfather an artist. I remember watching my mother create this gorgeous flower embroidery work and my grandfather a Ukranian shoe maker and wood working building and always creating amazing products.
My unique style comes from years of practice and really delving deep into my inner child and soul. My style has shifted and changed over the years, but my color palette has always stayed true and is highly connected to my outgoing personality. My work and style is now embedded in the eb and flow of emotions, our true inner child, our deep connection to water as human beings and our inner anatomy on a microscopic level.
Do you have any rituals or routines that help you get into a creative mindset when starting a new project?
That's a good question - I often engage in meditation before creating, listening to my favorite music, surrounding myself with nature, throwing painting around, but more often than not my work comes out in an intuitive nature where I delve right into without thinking.
How has your experience exhibiting in diverse locations such as Japan, South America, and SE Asia influenced your artistic perspective and technique?
Exhibiting all over the world has been such a blessing. I am forever grateful for all of these opportunities. I've learned so much from each place, met loads of amazing individuals and artists and feel lucky to have the ability to share my inner world with others.
I lived in SE for 11 years and exhibiting in Japan for 6 of those. I'd say these places have completely influenced my work. My colour palette is highly related to the vibrant nature of Bangkok and Thailand in particular. The color people, patterns, chaos, twisting and turning emotions of the city and its gorgeous humans that inhabitant it. In my previous work, 7 years ago, Japan and Japanese culture and mythology played a huge part in my work. Creating hybrid characters and portraits of myself in all different emotional states and levels. As an art therapist and psychologist I enjoyed using this as a type of therapy while also being influenced by Japanese and Thai anime, mythology, and pop culture. I believe the shapes, lines, colors and non objective imagery still have this effect and influence.
What message or feeling do you hope to convey to your viewers through your art, and how do you invite them to engage with your work?
This can be such a hard question to answer :)
My message is all about engaging with the inner child. The voice inside of all of us, telling us to let go, enjoy life, enjoy whats in the here and now and in this very moment. How important it is to love one self, and embracing that love around you. Allowing your mind body and soul to connect as one unit. Even when things get tough, and it does, to remember that inner soul, inner child and it can get you through anything difficult in life.
I also, always invite the viewer to engage as they see fit. How does the work make them feel? What do they see? What emotions and feelings does my work elicit for them? As an art therapist and psychologist Im always open to new conversations about my work!
What are some of the most memorable exhibitions or projects you have been a part of, and why do they stand out to you?
Two of my fondest memories are when I was studying by BFA I was in a Art for Social Action course. I was placed with a family in a difficult situation in the city I was raised, Philadelphia. Over the course of a semester I was able to get to know this family, their best moments, the turmoil’s of living in a lower SES community, what it was like to be from an immigrant family and more. At the the end of this experience myself and the family created a 3-D mural that I installed into their home. Coming from a low class family and immigrant family myself we had a deep connection that I will never ever forget.
The second is my work as an art therapy in anti-human trafficking in Vietnam. I worked with a particular client who was both mute and deaf, who showed me and taught me things I never knew were possible. Through the use of art we were able to connect, speak, open up and work through some of the most difficult situations. Through the power of art making this individual is now top of their class, and becoming a famous artist and voice for other trafficking survivors in Vietnam. This was one of the most humbling experiences of my entire career, and that individual is one of the strongest people I know.
How do you incorporate feedback from critics and audiences into your artistic practice, and how do you balance this feedback with your own artistic intuition?
I'm a very open minded person and I'm always open to feedback. I often send my work to other artist friends and even old teachers to see if I can change, shift or add additional material to my work. I'm always looking for additional inspiration whether it be through social media, artist meetups, or classes. I balance this through my own gut feeling, always taking into consideration will this work for me, is this the right way, embracing others opinions, while also respecting my own artistic intuition. I think embracing the mistakes is such an important part of being and artist, laying a colour down that someone else might have suggested could make or break it - but it teaches you so much about subjectivity and who you are as an artist and creative.
How do you stay motivated and inspired despite any setbacks or creative blocks you may encounter?
I think my motivation comes directly from my heart. I can't live without creating. Even if I'm just working on simple line work, or color mixing, or practicing different forms and shapes to include in my work. I tell myself how important creativity is for my soul, my emotional well being, and mental health. With that said I also believe stepping away and giving myself breaks from the creative and being in the studio is healthy as well. I'm lucky as I've just gotten over a 3 year creative block, so right now in my own practice my soul is on fire for the creative drive!
How do you feel about exhibiting your artworks with The Holy Art Gallery?
I'm super pumped! I've had a few friends exhibiting with your gallery already and they had wonderful things to say! Thanks for having me guys and I look forward to the exhibition and trying one out with my actual in person work too!
Looking ahead, what are your long-term goals and aspirations as an artist, and how do you plan to achieve them?
I'd like right find a solid gallery or galleries to represent my art, more exhibitions and meeting artists! Continuing on my path of not only creating but sharing the beauty and therapeutic nature of art with individuals all over the world. In order to do this just keep applying to galleries, applying for publications and just keep that determination and motivation alive!
My dream is to open an art therapeutic space here in Türkiye for survivors of trauma - using expressive art therapy, somatic movement and yoga. In order to achieve this I've already begun running small courses and will continue on this path. Once I build up a good amount of clients and find a space to rent this dream will soon become a reality. Hopefully in a few years I'll be sharing the details of my own space and the success of my clients :)
What role does emotion play in your creative process, and and how do you aim to evoke specific feelings or reactions from those who view your artworks?
Emotion is key in my work. Emotions of my past, emotions of the here and now and even things of the future speak through my work. The creative process has always been a way for me to express myself, to show my emotion while also working through and processing particular emotions. Art was introduced to me at a very young age and became a catalyst for change as well as escape from touch and unbearable situations.
I believe the colour, lines, movement, layering and pattern repetition in my work shows the viewers the juxtaposition of the organized chaos that I live within. A beauty with a tough side that I am able to dance and twist through while still seeing the light. A world where several forces are up against each other and a beautiful explosion is happening, where nothing is black and white, but life through its true existence; the good, bad and ugly and the real experience of my inner child and soul.
