Rachel Gillen was born and raised in Mt. Healthy, Ohio, a one square mile town just north of Cincinnati. After graduating high school in 2002, Rachel attended Miami University for 2 years where she earned her Associates Degree in Fine Art, before making the decision to transfer to the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.
Rachel's influence stems from her background and the images that surround her every day. The reflections in some of her paintings are a way of expressing her take on a large city that can sometimes seem overwhelming. Rachel's most recent work is exploring her feelings about her friends and family, their children, and lower to middle class American life.
This award winning artist has been chosen as a finalist in the Artists' Magazine Annual Competition for the Best Art of 2007 and she has participated in group shows from San Francisco to her hometown of Cincinnati. Her work is quickly being added to private collections across the US, as well as corporate collections such as Pabst Blue Ribbon Company. Rachel is currently pursuing her BFA in painting, which she will earn in May of 2009.
"If I can paint, pay my rent, and afford Ramen Noodles, I'll be a happy girl!"
EDUCATIONAcademy of Art University. San Francisco, California. 2005 - present.
Miami University.Oxford, Ohio. 2002-2004. Associates in Art.
The Art Academy of Cincinnati. Cincinnati, Ohio. 2002.
EXHIBITIONS/AWARDS2008
" 'A' Class ". HANG Art. San Francisco, CA.
www.hangart.com 17th Annual Juried Art Competition. Breckenridge Fine Arts Center. Breckenridge, TX.
www.breckenridgefineart.org "The Kindest Shape" Figurative Exhibition. Base Cooperative Galley. Cincinnati, OH.
"Out of the Blue". Red Tree Gallery. Cincinnati, OH.
www.redtreegallery.net "Delicious". Studio Gallery. San Francisco, CA.
www.studiogallerysf.com/page5.php?OpfAlbum_CurrentPageNumber_69082=1 "Magnitude SEVEN" 4th Annual International Exhibition. Manifest Gallery.
Cincinnati, OH.
www.manifestgallery.org/about/schedule.html
"Annual Spring Show". Academy of Art University. San Francisco, CA.
1st place Contemporary Painting
2nd place Landscape Painting
3rd place Contemporary Painting
Junior League Silent Auction. San Francisco, CA.
Meier's Art & Wine Invitational. Silverton, OH.
Second Sunday Stroll. Waynesville, OH.
"Spotlight IV".
www.zhibit.org2007
Pabst Blue Ribbon '07-'08 East and West Coast Tour
www.pabstblueribbon.com/art_new/0708tour.asp "Annual Spring Show". Academy of Art University. San Francisco, CA.
media.academyart.edu/springshow2007/fa/index.html "Big Bang". Academy of Art University. San Francisco, CA.
Junior League Silent Auction. San Francisco, CA.
Alta Plaza Preschool Benefit Auction. San Francisco, CA.
"Drink, Drank, Drunk". Rouge Nightclub. San Francisco, CA.
"Bay Area Landscapes". Loco Taco. San Francisco, CA.
2006
"Annual Spring Show". Academy of Art University. San Francisco, CA.
1st place Watercolor
2nd place Still Life
Frank Lanza Underclassman Incentive Award
"Big Bang". Academy of Art University. San Francisco, CA.
2005
Group Show. Studio Z. San Francisco, CA.
Hurricane Katrina Relief Auction. Academy of Art University. San Francisco,
CA.
2004
Miami University Student Show. Fitton Center for the Arts. Hamilton, OH.
2002
Whitewater Valley Regional Art Competition. Indiana University East, IN.
PUBLICATIONS/PRESS2008
http://sfluxe.com/2008/06/27/emerging-artists-at-aau/ www.cullmanmuseum.com/article.cfm/id/326471 www.newsguide.us/art-entertainment/museums/Emerging-Fine-Artists-Receive-Prominent-Accolades-at-Academy-of-Art-University-2008-Annual-Spring-Show/ aggregatemadbox.com/bloggregate/?p=996 The Cincinnati Enquirer (print edition)
The Cincinnati Enquirer (online)
The Mount Healthy Connector, published quarterly.
2007
The Artists' Magazine. "Best Art of 2007" Annual Issue.
www.artistsnetwork.com/article/2007-Still-Life/ 
