Rachel Ratten is a New Zealand painter and printmaker that uses imagery which is figurative/representational in nature. Having been a quilter for 20 years, and attempting original compositions, it wasn’t until she achieved an MFA from University of Canterbury in 2015, that Rachel moved her focus on to the more ‘formal’ elements of design and composition, with narrative deliberately excluded. For this sharp turn away from her traditional path, Rachel started using solid fabrics rather that her usual mediums of paint and ink. Design aesthetics and knowledge gained through her long art journey means she can bridge her traditional stitching skills with a contemporary usage of colour and composition elements.
Presently, Rachel is exploring printmaking onto cloth in ways that will bring another subtle layer to what she wishes to convey.
This piece is from an ongoing series that explores abstraction, a theme that has evolved from spontaneous mark-making.
Transgressions (40x40cm) Rachel Ratten
See more artwork by Rachel at: @racheljratten
Invitation to Exhibition Opening & Textile Talk
Australia Wide Eight premieres at Warwick Art Gallery from 14 July until 27 August 2022. The official opening by Julie Tasker is at 2.30pm on Saturday 16 July following her textile talk Quilts Created with Wool? Why not? All welcome! Tickets are free. Bookings essential:
- Julie Tasker: Textile Talk 1.30-2.30pm Saturday 16 July 2022
- Official Opening Australia 2.30-4pm Saturday 16 July 2022
AW8 Preview is a series of daily blog posts from 10 June to 15 July 2022 that will feature an artist and preview their artwork from the Ozquilt Network members’ exhibition Australia Wide Eight. The exhibition will premiere at Warwick Art Gallery from 14 July until 27 August 2022 and continue on tour until September 2024. Please direct any exhibition queries to AW8@ozquiltnetwork.org.au
Leave a Reply