
BIO
Rachel McGovern is a sculptor and designer based in Los Angeles, CA. She attended Virginia Commonwealth University and is a Virginia Museum of Fine Arts fellow. She is a recent graduate of Environmental Design from ArtCenter College of Design.
“By exploring interactions of form, I am building an archive of work that plays amongst ideas of minimalism, tactility and ornamentation. The objects I make become interactive sculptures for everyday use through the consideration of material and design. The performances between human and object and between object and human are key to the construction of my work. Viewers become collaborators, as their visual reaction and use of each object is the ultimate product of my work.”
EDUCATION
2023
MS in Environmental Design, Furniture and Fixtures, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA
2016
BFA in Craft and Material Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
2016
Undergraduate Certificate in Product Innovation, Da Vinci Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
RESIDENCES
2024
Open AIR, Fall 2024 Artist in Residence
Missoula, MT
EXHIBITIONS
2023
LaunchPad, ICFF 2023, New York, NY
GradShow 2023, ArtCenter, Pasadena, CA
2019
Routine, Group Show, Los Angeles, CA
2016
Craft & Furious, FAB Gallery, Richmond, VA
2015
VCU Student Art Gallery, Project 1, Richmond, VA
What's to Your Left?, Hawthorne Gallery, Richmond, VA
American Craft Council (ACC) 2015 Baltimore Show, Baltimore, MD
Undergraduate Juried Fine Arts Exhibition 2015, Anderson Gallery, Richmond, VA
2014
Making Sense, The Depot, Richmond, VA
The Devil Made Me Do It, Yellow Space, Richmond, VA
Fiber Arts Exhibit 2014, Infinity Art Gallery
Undergraduate Juried Fine Arts Exhibition 2014, Anderson Gallery, Richmond, VA
I OBSERVE MYSELF OBSERVING WHAT I OBSERVE, Space .88, Richmond, VA
AWARDS
L A M P Competition Best Table Light Design
2023, International
SIT Furniture Design Award, Lamp
2023, International
L A M P Competition Best Table Light Design
2022, International
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fellowship Award
2016-17, Richmond, VA
PUBLICATIONS
2021
Godfrey, Gemma; Cash, Madeline, "Forever" Zine
Green, Pryor, “VMFA Continues Support of Virginia Artists with $162,00” VMFA,
February 1 2016,
“VMFA 2016-2017 Fellowship Award Flyer,” Richmond, VA
“McLean Area Student Wins Arts Fellowship”, Sun Gazette, March 2016, McLean, VA
Murden, John, “Bananas on Grove”, Fan of the Fan, March 29 2013,
2013
2016