Lowell Ryan Projects presents a solo exhibition by Rachel Rickert titled Wind and Rattlesnakes.

The gallery hosted an opening art party on Saturday, October 14, 2023. The exhibition runs through November 11, 2023.

Lowell Ryan Rachel Rickert

This exhibition marks Rachel Rickert’s debut solo show in Los Angeles and her first collaboration with Lowell Ryan Projects. The exhibit features over thirty paintings created during this past summer in both Wyoming and Joshua Tree, CA. These oil-on-panel plein-air works offer vibrant and intimate portrayals of vast landscapes, revealing their captivating yet imposing beauty. Rickert’s exuberant use of color allows her to capture the nuances of time, temperature, and weather patterns, offering unique experiential glimpses of her surroundings.

Plein-air Painting

Rickert’s approach to plein-air painting has evolved with her recent move from Brooklyn to Joshua Tree. This transition has transformed her practice into a literal and metaphorical journey. She now often paints the works depicting the Joshua Tree landscape from the land surrounding her home. However, she created the works painted in Wyoming on hiking expeditions over the course of a month-long trip. The process of painting plein-air in both locations can be grueling, as it involves enduring harsh weather conditions such as sun, wind, rain, heat, and cold, often within the same day. However, these challenges yield intimate paintings that capture moments of sheer bliss and awe.

Rachel Rickert, Metamorphic Rocks, 2023, Oil on panel, 8 x 8 inches / 20.32 x 20.32 cm

Although not overtly feminist in nature, Rickert’s practice is rooted in a deep respect for strong, independent women who have paved the way before her, such as Lois Dodd, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Gretel Ehrlich. Rickert chooses to focus on personal moments, emotions, and places rather than pursuing explicitly political agendas, viewing this as a genuine form of liberation and empowerment.

Rachel Rickert was born in 1990 in Bethesda, MD, and lives and works in Joshua Tree, CA. She received her MFA from the New York Studio School in 2015, as well as a BFA from Washington University in St. Louis in 2012.

On view: October 14 – November 11, 2023

What: Wind and Rattlesnakes, Rachel Rickert
Where: Lowell Ryan Projects, 4619 W Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90016
When: Running through October 14, 2023, 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Website: https://www.lowellryanprojects.com/

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