Here, we ask designers to take a selfie and give us an inside look at their life.
Age: 35
Occupation: Artist.
Instagram: @rachelduvall
Hometown: West Grove, PA.
Studio location: Los Angeles.
Describe what you make: I make handwoven artworks using linen and natural dyes for my color palette. They are abstract geometric works that highlight the subtle variation of the woven cloth in tension with their gridded structure and composition.
The most important thing you’ve designed to date: My favorite series is a new one where I am combining painting with weaving, layered over each other to make something new. I’m really excited about recent works I’ve made exploring this and keen to see where it takes me in the future. I started digging into this idea when I was artist in residence at the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation and have grown it as part of my practice.
Describe the problem your work solves: I hope that my work evokes a calm space for the viewer to slow down and be drawn in by repeating elements and variation in the woven cloth, similar to the meditative process that goes into creating the works built up line by line on the loom.
Describe the project you are working on now: I just finished a new body of work for my solo exhibition “Madder + Marigold” at Alison Milne in Toronto. In this series, I really pushed my use of layering woven cloth over painted linen, creating windows of texture with different weave structures. I also delved into my color palette by concentrating on only reds and yellows for this series. They’re derived from natural dyes including madder root, marigold, weld, and cochineal.
A new or forthcoming project we should know about: I recently opened a solo exhibition, called “Madder + Marigold” at Alison Milne. in Toronto, that’s up through Oct. 23.
What you absolutely must have in your studio: Sparkling water and my headphones.
What you do when you’re not working: I’m a mom to an amazing two year old, Lucia, so when I’m not working in my own studio one of the things I love to do is make art with her. There’s nothing like a small child to remind you to live in the moment!
Sources of creative envy: There are so many amazing artists that inspire me. Some of my favorites have to be Agnes Martin, Anni Albers, Josef Albers, Ad Reinhardt, Anne Truitt…
The distraction you want to eliminate: My phone!
Concrete or marble? Concrete.
High-rise or townhouse? House in the woods.
Remember or forget? Forget.
Aliens or ghosts? Aliens.
Dark or light? Light.
