I am interested in our natural and built environments, how we move in them, how we make space, and how we interact with nature, physically and spiritually. For me, nature is the sacred, the divine, and we are part of that. I am an explorer, collector, and creator. Sometimes I collect physical things—little pieces of wood or rusty bits of metal I find in the gutter—and sometimes I collect visuals: changing color and light, plants, birds, natural and urban landscapes, urban decay. 

I like the puzzle of balancing the various elements in a sculpture or a painting, harmonious and dissonant, dark and light, illusional and real, soft and sharp. I generally don't sketch out a plan or blueprint to work from, and a piece always changes in the act of making it. I let the material tell me how it wants to go, feeling for the natural physical logic of things, but also finding that, often, the things I like most are not what I understand or ever imagined working visually. 

Rachel Maxi works and lives in Seattle, Washington

You can follow Rachel Maxi and her eye on Instagram

CV

Education

Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH 1988

Exhibition History

Solo Shows:

2024 Vashon Center for the Arts Gallery, Vashon, WA

2022  i.e. Gallery, Edison, WA

2020  i.e. Gallery, Edison, WA

2019  Art X Agent, Waitsburg, WA

2018  Imogen Gallery, Astoria, WA

2016  Calypte, Seattle, WA

2014  Zinc Art, Seattle, WA

2013, Amo Art, Waitsburg, WA

2010  G. Gibson Gallery, Seattle, WA

2009  Grey Gallery, Seattle, WA

2008  Phyllis Stein, Los Angeles, CA

2008  Some Space, Seattle, WA

2006  Baas Gallery, Seattle, WA

2005  Marghitta Feldman Gallery, Portland, OR

Group Shows

2024 AMcE Creative Arts, “Embodiment”, Seattle, WA

2023 Foster White Gallery, Small Works, Seattle, WA

2023 Bainbridge Museum of Art, “Spotlight” Bainbridge, WA

2022  The  En; Mt Analogue, curated by Chloe Dye Sherpe, Seattle WA

2021  Orcas Paley: Pocket Diety, Seattle, WA

2021  i.e. Gallery: Staff Picks, Edison, WA

2019  Orcas Paley: Weed Pot Show, Seattle, WA

2018  Studio e: One Room, in conjunction with Seattle Art Fair, Seattle, WA

2018  Studio e, gallery show, Seattle, WA

2018  Studio e, Pop up at Amandine Mezzanine, Seattle, WA

2016  Seattle Painting Now Survey curated by Matthew Offenbach, Seattle, WA

2015  Linda Hodges Gallery: On the Road, Seattle, WA

2013  Linda Hodges Gallery: Suburbia; Dream or Nightmare, Seattle, WA

2012  G. Gibson, Elles, Seattle, WA

2010  Seattle Art Museum: Urban, Seattle, WA

2007  Vermillion Gallery: Gathering, Seattle, WA

2007  Seattle Art Museum: Place, Seattle, WA

2004, City Space Gallery, Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs: Transition and Transformation, Seattle, WA

2004  City Space Gallery, Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs: Seattle’s Emerging Artists Roster, Seattle WA

2004  Tacoma Art Museum: Contemporary Artists Revisit Place and Memory, Tacoma, WA

2003  Davidson Gallery: Still Life Today, Seattle, WA

2000  Seattle Art Museum: 20001/2; Going Forward, Looking Back, Seattle, WA

Residencies, Awards and Publications

2023  Banibridge Island Art Museum, one painting selected for Spotlight juried exhibition, WA

2022  Jentel, 1 month, Banner, Wyoming

2021  Willapa Bay AIR; 1 month artist in residence  Oysterville, WA

2021  Joshua Tree Highlands; 6 week solo Artist in Residence, Joshua Tree, CA

2020  PLAYA;1 month artist in residence,  Summer Lake, OR,

2018  Green Olive Arts; 1 month artist in residence, Tetouan, Morocco

2020  Cascade Weekly, Stephen Hunter

2019  Waitsburg Times Review and Interview by Briana Wray

2018  Coast Radio Interview, Astoria, OR

2013  Purchase Award, City of Seattle

2010  Seattle Times, Michael Upchurch

2006  GAP Grant, Artist Trust, Seattle WA

2005  Purchase Award, City of Seattle, WA

2005  Seattle PI, Regina Hackett

2004  Tacoma Art Museum; Lewis and Clark Territory, Contemporary Artists Revisit Place and Memory

2004  Public Art Commission, Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs at the Seattle City Light Transfer          Station, Seattle, WA

2002  Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs Emerging Public Artist Roster

2003  Purchase Award, City of Seattle, WA

2000  Seattle PI, Regina Hackett review 20001/2