Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Strum.
Hi Rachel, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I’m originally from New York, born in Queens, grew up on Long Island, and attended college at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, where I studied Fine Arts. After graduation, I spent some time back on the East Coast before deciding to move down to Dallas to be closer to my then-boyfriend. It was that decision that changed my life completely.
We met at art school, so being with another artist was so motivating. We have always had each other and fought to keep making work even when life presented obstacles (and there were many). Over the years, we moved around chasing jobs. And different opportunities, spending some time back in New York and a number of years in Los Angeles, but I have recently settled back in Dallas. Each chapter of life has helped propel my studio practice and career in the art world forward, and I am excited to be back in Texas to continue building on the foundation that has been built.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There are always challenges! Being a self-employed artist is not an easy path… sprinkle in personal challenges, and you’ve got an uphill battle ahead of you. Many people don’t realize how much work goes into not only creating the work but building a market for your work, networking with the right people, and managing yourself. None of this is taught in art school; business management isn’t even mentioned; these are all hard lessons that have to be learned through experience. Many artists have day jobs and hardly make it to a place where their work is self-sustainable, so I am thankful for where I am and how far I have come.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an abstract painter currently based in Dallas, Texas. Working with various mediums ranging from acrylic paint, aerosol paint, and poured resin, I build layered images that consider and explore the constructs of time and space. Luminous color enmeshed by patterning and stratified glittering surfaces oscillates between flat planes of geometric shapes and deep spatial expanses.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Dallas is so diverse in culture but very spread out in comparison to a city like New York. There is so much to explore and discover, always something new to experience, which I love.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rachelstrum.com
- Instagram: @rm.strum
