Artist Statement

In 2021, I traded the rhythm of New York for the lush, immersive terrain of the Dominican Republic. This transition—marked by the intense heat and the vibrant depths of the island—fundamentally altered my visual language. Working on paper and linen, I explore the intersection of realism and abstraction to capture the "temperature" of life.

My abstract works function as a theater of strokes: layers of gauze-like color and elegant variegations that mirror the interference of earth and water. Within this atmospheric energy, my equine works emerge. Having drawn horses since childhood, my education in polo began in 2023, shifting my perspective from sidelines to the field as a polo player. In the studio, I translate the grit and kinetic synchronicity of the game into dream-like allegories. These pieces are a celebration of human-equine abidance—a testament to the shared struggle and the disciplined partnership required to reach life’s moments of triumph.

Bio

Rachel White is a studio-based artist producing artworks blending the barrier between abstraction and realism. She is also an Adjunct Professor of Fine Arts in the College of the Arts at the University of Florida, Gainesville specializing in color theory and figurative anatomy for artists.

Parallel to her studio practice and prior to teaching at the University of Florida, she held numerous positions in New York City luxury cosmetics advertising agencies, including Global Director of Image Reproduction at Clinique and Global Director of Creative Operations at Lancome, YSL, Ralph Lauren Fragrances, and Tom Ford Beauty among other brands.

While earning her MFA in Sculpture from Alfred University, Rachel focused on large-scale sculptural installation work, printmaking and digital media. These endeavors have had a lasting effect on her studio practice and advertising career. During her tenure in advertising, Rachel continued to explore the printed image, as her responsibility was largely dealing with retouching and the preparation of luxury imagery for in-store promotions, print advertising or online promotions.

Rachel is the recipient of fellowships from the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, Ox-Bow School of Art Residency, and Art on the Move Art Residency in Detroit. Her work can be found in international collections of art in Milan, New York City, London, Vancouver, Harare to Punta Cana, Santo Domingo and the new Casa De Campo Hotel in the Dominican Republic.

Rachel lives, works and plays polo in the Ocala, Florida area and in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic with her husband and two daughters.