Rachel Chambers

Featured artist Rachel Chambers talks about her unconventional and whimsical subject matter. Read our interview to learn more about her inspirations, creative process, and more!

When did art become a pursuit for you?

In high school, art class was the only place I wanted to be. In college, I changed majors from Art Ed to Fine Arts because the studio was the only place I felt like I was spending my time wisely. Even though I am teaching now, it’s still the studio that feels the best.

How did you first become involved with ArtsWorcester?

I moved to the metro west area and searched for galleries that were more than paintings. I found ArtsWorcester, and it’s the best gallery in which I have been involved.

What medium do you currently work in, and how did you choose this medium?

I work in mixed media, sculpture, and mostly fiber arts techniques. The materials are the most important in my work, as I respond to what I can do with their properties.

What is your creative process?

I like to collect toys from when I was a little kid and turn them into something that has another life – almost like a trophy to what it used to be. I read about dinosaurs, how they treated each other, how they treated their young. I put all that information into my landscapes or sculptures.

How do you choose your subject matter? Are there themes that recur throughout your work?

Most of the time I am thinking about a landscape or a character. Then I find the materials to make that landscape or I find the character and decided where it should be located.

What other media or directions would you like to explore?

I’ve been working in clay a little, and I’d like more time to be able to dive into that and see where it takes me.