Rachael Sophrin Lorimer: "Emergence."
The Artist
Rachael Sophrin Lorimer’s artwork explores the intersection of geometric shapes with organic forms and patterns. The dance between these two visual identities unfolds across many mediums including drawings, paintings, murals, prints, photographs and textiles.
Rachael takes the viewer to an imagined arena where our sense of scale is challenged, curtains of foliage are peeled back to reveal abstract vistas, and the structures that we normally observe in the natural world are invigorated through unexpected juxtapositions and re-assignments of color. Since her childhood in rural northeastern Vermont, Rachael has long observed the abstract formations of ice and snow crystals and how they take over the leaves, mud, water and moisture in the air. She employs these structures in much of her work, often utilizing them where nature would not- just for fun! Things get funky, and she likes it like that!
Rachael earned her BFA in 2006 from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. Her creative studio is based in Troy, New York, where she lives with her partner, son and two cats in a yellow house. Her art is greatly influenced by plants of all kinds, abstract expressionism, and her grandfather Saul Sophrin who was also an artist. Always looking ahead, she dreams of one day designing a playground for kids (and adults!) where her artwork and passion for color and shapes can come together in play.
The Mural
My TWFM mural is a true celebration of spring. It features the structures of bean plants sprouting from a snowy base and shooting up as tall as they can, as fast as they can! This is my very first mural, and I had so much fun painting it!
The texture on some of my mural's leaves is printed from actual cabbage from Laughing Earth Farm. I am a printmaker at heart and will always find ways to sneak printing in to whatever projects I'm working on.
I decided to participate in this mural project because my love of plants and farms is embedded in my creative practice, and it seemed like a natural pairing. I also was looking for opportunities to do creative work with public exposure while many things are closed due to Covid-19, and this project allowed me to kick off my new year locally and creatively! The Farmer's Market team was very welcoming and easy to work with.
Check out Rachael’s portfolio at www.rslorimer.com, or follow her on Instagram @rs.lorimer.art.
