Rachel Dawson is an interdisciplinary artist who make connections between her intuitive, artistic process and metaphysical processes. She seeks to render the invisible visible and to materialize the immaterial. Visual perception, belief, and otherworldly phenomena are addressed through painting, sculpture, and video that engages with absurdity and the space of the imagination. Often within a feminized space of making, she investigates different roles of creativity and agency.
Raised in Southern California, she has lived and worked in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1999. She received her MFA in 2011 from the California College of the Arts in San Francisco. Her work has been exhibited throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
Education
MFA, Painting and Drawing, California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA
BFA, Painting and Drawing, University of San Francisco, Joint Degree Cum Laude, San Francisco, CA
Undergraduate 1997-1999, Theater, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Exhibition Record
American Artwork, Published Catalog
Chasing Ghost VII, Ultimum Verum Gallery, Group Show, Portland, OR
Ephemeral, PRPG, Group Show, Mexico City, Mexico
2022
Magical Thinking, Ivy League Gallery, Group Show (virtual)
48 Pillars, Arc Gallery, Group Show, San Francisco, CA
2021
Terrain Biennial, Oakland, CA
2019
Altered, Offspace, Group Show, Minnesota Street Projects, San Francisco, CA
2018
Garden Gossip and Gladys Kravitz, Terrain Bienniel, Oakland, CA
2017
Between Here and There, Two Person Show, Alter Space, San Francisco, CA
2015
Ghost Hole V, Group Show, Artscape, Toronto, Canada
Portal, Two Person Show, Factory Outlet Gallery, Mokelumne Hill, CA
2013
Phantasmagoria, Group show, Make Hang Gallery, San Francisco, CA
36 Cats and one stripe pussy, The A.I.R. Gallery 10th Biennial, Brooklyn, NY
Once Emerging, Now Emerging, Cirrus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
White, Group Show, Projekt30, Brooklyn, NY
Sphere of Influence, Group Show, Worth Ryder Gallery, Berkeley, CA
2012
Barely There, Group Show, Slate Contemporary, Oakland, CA
Proof, Group Show, Southern Exposure, San Francisco, CA
The Project, Group Show, Woman-Made Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
Ever After (Off Space), Chapel of the Chimes, Oakland, CA
Monobandes, Group Video Show, Les Territoires Gallery, Montreal, Canada
Fired!, Group Show, Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
Take Another Look, Group Show, As Is Gallery, Oakland, CA
MFA Show, California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA
2011
At Times I Think and At Times I Am, Group Show, Playspace, San Francisco,
Black Lab, Group Show, The Lab, San Francisco, CA
-ennial, Group Show, PlaySpace Gallery, CCA, San Francisco, CA
2010
Group Show, Esteban Sabar Gallery, Oakland, CA
The Magnificent Seven, Group Show (with Abraham CruzVillegas), Wattis Institute, San Francisco, CA
2009
Group Show, Esteban Sabar Gallery, Oakland, CA
Artist Showcase, Element Lounge, San Francisco, CA
2008
Sight Revamped, Esteban Sabar Gallery, Oakland, CA
Gigastar Roundup Show 2, Esteban Sabar Gallery, Oakland, CA
Artist Showcase, Element Lounge, San Francisco, CA
2007
Distortions, Factory 5 Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Artist Showcase, Element Lounge, San Francisco, CA
2006
Introductions, Factory 5 Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2005
Group Show, Studio Z Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Group Show, Viv and a Movie Productions at Imusicast, Oakland, CA
Group Show, Café Valentine, Los Angeles, CA
2004
Uncanny, Nexus Gallery, Berkeley, CA
Face to Face *BFA Exhibition, California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA
2002
Faces VI, Period Gallery, Lincoln, NE
Thresholds, Thacher Gallery, University of San Francisco, CA
Resonance, Thacher Gallery, University of San Francisco, CA
2001
Awards
SECA Award Nominee, San Francisco, CA
2012
Headlands Center for the Arts Graduate Fellowship Award Finalist. Sausalito, CA
2011
Merit Award, “Sian”, Faces VI, Period Gallery, Lincoln, NE
2002
Residencies
Alter Space, Jail Cell Residency, San Francisco. August – November 2015
Bibliography
Dewitt Cheng, review, “Barely There: When Less is More,” Art Ltd, (January/February 2012)
Visiting Artist Lectures and Workshops
Artist Workshop, Art Night SF, UN Plaza, October
2015
Guest Lecturer, Graduate Fine Art class (Abundant Curiosities with Rebeca Bollinger) California College of the Arts, November
Art for the Heart at Valley Care Health, Pleasanton, CA (art workshop with cancer patients)
2011
Crossroads School, Los Angeles, CA (workshop)
2006
Collections
Private
Dennis and Shannon Wong
Kim Saxe
Greg and Leah Chasen
Arnold and Nancy Chasen
Clifton and I’isha Jones
Gunilla Wessnert
Nikki Conrad Erwin
Clive and Elaine Dawson
Danielle Fox
Jim Paddack
Lisa Murray
Scott Pharr