A native of the Northeast (Connecticut, Maryland and New York), Rachel Stevens received her BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and her MFA from Syracuse University. She attended The Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture while still an undergrad at MICA. Rachel’s passion for art serves as a flying carpet of sorts, inspiring travels to many countries around the world, including a Fulbright to Nepal.
While in Nepal, Rachel studied ancient copper casting techniques practiced by Newari Buddhist icon makers and sojourned to sites that are sacred to Buddhist and Hindu pilgrims. These experiences culminated in her collaboration with the copper artisans of Sulav Studios, in Patan, Nepal, and the creation of two contemporary installations that conceptually and aesthetically blend elements of East and West.
Rachel remains active with the Fulbright program. She served as a Program Reviewer from 2007-09 and was appointed a Fulbright Ambassador in 2010. In this capacity she promotes the Fulbright program to university communities and artist residencies across the United States. Rachel exhibits her sculpture nationally and is represented by Zane Bennett Gallery in Santa Fe, NM.
She has received numerous grants and awards, including a Pollock-Krasner Foundation grant. She lovingly restored a historic adobe duplex located in downtown Las Cruces, NM that serves as her home base and studio. Rachel has taught sculpture at New Mexico State University since 1994.
