Rachel Varden’s work is a combination of painting and drawing that conveys a pictorial language with concrete statements hidden within. Her paintings are characterized by quick, fluid brush strokes and drawing often with figures in a cartoon-like appearance. Rachel views the cartoon as her best weapon against the intellectual concept of what highbrow cultural art is all about.As an artist, she is a cultural critic. She speaks to society through her paintings. In our world, everything seems to be scripted or staged. We use these things to distract and misinform. This includes false news, media interference, etc. so it's difficult to know what is real or not. In this new world order, the norm is out of whack but the simple everyday experiences continue. In her paintings, Rachel explores change and constant experimentation. These elements offer resistance and create obstacles to interpretation thereby making sure that things are not as they should be. This method creates a sense of realism, instead of a typical representation. Her use of vibrant colours in her work enhances her aim and her belief that art is one of the most truthful things today.Working primarily in paint, Rachel explores ideas of primitive art and symbolism in her work.
Having developed her work as a result from residencies at the Lodestar School of Art, at Glenstal Abbey, Limerick, Rachel uses methods of drawings, painting and installation to trace how we might disentangle the interwoven relations of race, gender, and capitalism. Drawing largely from archival sources her work engages the mythic and residual forms to think about ways that we orient ourselves to the past; using different visual modes of annotation, hybrid narratives, and speculative storytelling,
Rachel Varden is a visual artist living and working in Tuam, Co. Galway, Ireland. After achieving her Art Foundation, Rachel moved to Jewellery design and spent several years working in that field in the 90s. She was employed by renowned silversmith company Georg Jensen in Hjørring, Denmark during this period. In 1998 she returned to Ireland and in 2009 returned to college to do a BA in Fine Art Painting through the 6 year access course. In 2016 she obtained her BA Honours Degree in Fine Art Painting.
She studied at the National College of Art & Design, Dublin and The Centre for Creative Arts & Media, Galway. Through 2021-2022 she was part of the Creative Team for Creative Places Tuam.
She sees herself as an early career artist and she became a full-time artist in June 2020.
She is a member of Visual Artists Ireland, 126 Artist Run Gallery, Galway, KAVA(Kinvara Area Visual Artists) Kinvara, Co. Galway and Creative Entrepreneur Club. She has exhibited in group shows, locally, nationally and internationally. Most recently the Alchemical Vessels Exhibition, at 126 Gallery, Galway January 2023.
She continues to up skill at every opportunity and attends regularly the Lodestar Residencies, the New York Studio School Virtual Drawing and Painting Marathons and as many exhibitions as possible to ensure that her work stays current and relevant
Interview with
the Artist 2020
Rachel Varden in her studio in Tuam, Co. Galway
Q: How did you get started as an artist?
RV: I’ve always been creative. As a child I would sit and draw constantly. I was fascinated with cartoons and comic books were a huge part of my early years. This is what I am good at so it was an automatic decision to do Foundation art in art school. Initially I would have liked to go directly into painting as a discipline but my college opted to axe the Fine art painting degree and to replace it with a graphics degree. That was not the path I wished to go down as I thought it would be too confined and precise so I went with the Jewellery course that the college offered.
I spent several years working in that field and was employed by Georg Jensen, Hjørring, Denmark, working on the floor doing everything that was involved with the manufacturing of jewellery.
In 1998 I returned to Ireland and in 2009 I returned to college to do a BA in Fine Art Painting through the 6 year access course. In 2016 I obtained my BA Hons Degree in Painting.
Q: How would you describe the work? And what materials do you use?
RV: I would describe my work as abstract, graphical and primitive. I work with various mediums, acrylics (Golden), Alcohol Inks, walnut ink and posca markers and pens. I am very particular about the type of paper I use. I love the handmade paper that I purchase from the Vintage Paper Company based in Scotland. I have recently discovered claybords and I find that the surface brings a luminosity and energy to the work.
Q: Do you take inspiration from any particular artist?
RV: Yes I am inspired by Rose Wylie, Glenn Goldberg, Judy Glantzman, Anne Harkin Petersen, Amy Sillman, Dana Schultz, Gladys Nilson, Jean Dubuffet, Bill Traylor and primitive art. I had the great pleasure of meeting Glenn and Judy at Lodestar 2019, their generosity knew no bounds and the advice and belief that they gave me was priceless. Anne Harkin Petersen’s support and inspiration keeps me determined and focused. She is an amazing artist and friend. I’d like to thank these artists for their wise words and guidance..
Q: What achievement are you most proud of to date?
RV: I am really proud of myself having gone back to college in my 40’s to follow my passion for painting while holding a fulltime job and raising 2 children.
Q: What inspires your work?
RV: Everything inspires me. The music I listen to, the lyrics of songs and images I see. I am like a sponge and I take everything in, things that I could possibly use in future work. I think the music of David Byrne from Talking Heads is extraordinary, it never bores me and I adore his lyrics. Going to exhibitions regularly also helps me to see what’s out there. Art that is unusual or different really grabs my attention. The stone carving in the library of Glenstal Abbey Co. Limerick had an immediate impact on me and my practice and I have been concentrating on these images for the last 12 months.
Q: Do you have a running theme running through your work if so what is it?
RV: At present my work is based on a couple of cats that I have given the title of “Scaredy Cats”. Using these with the intention that they invoke a sense of anxiety and uncertainty. Even though the paintings are colourful and bold there is hidden cynicism to the work. I also use primitive symbols in the work to create various intricate habitats for my creatures to inhabit. I am in constant competition with myself and am always trying to get the best visual outcome. I am constantly mixing things up, materials, colour, pattern, composition, size etc. to try to achieve this.
Q: Can you describe your process in creating your current body of work?
RV: With my current body of work I have explored and developed a set of characters from the stone carving at Glenstal Abbey. I have sketched and sketched getting know these images inside out. This is a whole new experience for me as before I would do a painting without research and let the paint do the work. Now I have an agenda and I have a clearer picture of what I’m looking to achieve and I plan the painting in advance. I do still have an element of surprise with colour, pattern and materials.
Q: What do you think people takeaway with them from seeing your works - what have some people said to you about your work in the past?
RV: I would hope people find my work intriguing, different and exciting. It would be perfect if my paintings could stir up emotions and take the viewer on a journey elsewhere. I aspire that my paintings will show the viewer my passion, my energy, my truth and my love of art. I have been told in the past that my work does have hidden symbolism, depth and meaning, that I’m an instinctive and intuitive painter and I paint from my gut. My use of formal elements and colour combinations are great.
You can visit Rachel at her studio in Tuam, Co, Galway, Ireland by booking an appointment. Please complete the contact form to arrange a visit.
