up front w/ Rachel MacFarlane | contemporary landscape

Rachel MacFarlane

Rachel MacFarlane is a visual artist, born in Scarborough, Ontario in 1986 and currently lives and works in New York. Widely recognized for her contemporary landscapes, MacFarlane initially creates paper models as references for her paintings and further explores conditions of place. Her ephemeral sculptures or maquettes are the foundation of her paintings, which utilize her masterful use of colour, form and the ability to create a space from memory and passing moments.

MacFarlane has an MFA from Rutgers University, a BFA from OCAD University, and a Certificate of Advanced Visual Studies from OCADU Florence program. She’s had solo exhibitions at Nicholas Metivier Gallery (Toronto, ON), Norberg Hall (Calgary, AB), Mason Gross Gallery at Rutgers University (New Brunswick, NJ), the Howard Park Institute ( Toronto, ON) , and Anna Leonowens Gallery at NSCAD University (Halifax, NS). She’s participated in group exhibitions in New York City, San Francisco, Florence, Quebec City, Halifax, Calgary, Toronto, and Philadelphia.

MacFarlane was awarded a 2021 and 2019 Canada Council for the Arts Explore and Create Grant, a 2019 Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grant, 2019 Vermont Studio Center Residency, 2015 Ontario Arts Council Grant, the Doris McCarthy Artist-in-Residence at Fool’s Paradise in Scarborough, Ontario, the NSCAD Robert Pope Artist Residency at NSCAD University, Triangle Artists Workshop position in NYC, and was a visiting artist at Cow House Studios in Wexford, Ireland. She received the Drawing and Painting medal from OCAD University, and the Rutgers Mason Gross Dean’s Choice Award among numerous other awards.

Her work is in public and private collections including Doris McCarthy Gallery at the University of Toronto, Jim and Susan Hill Collection, Equitable Bank, Stikeman Elliot, Royal Bank of Canada, Scotiabank, and The Donovan Collection at the University of Toronto.  She is currently a Part-Time Lecturer at Rutgers University and has provided numerous artist talks including Concordia University, University of Toronto, OCAD University, NSCAD University and Sheridan College.

Art Inquiry