RACHEL GONZALES
Rachel Gonzales is a Filipina abstract contemporary visual artist educated and experienced in architecture, fine art, and mysticism. Her work focuses on reclaiming the female gaze as a powerful way to see beyond the form. Informed by her architectural background in designing physical spaces, her paintings also serve as containers or portals for the human experience to be felt. Gonzales graduated from Rice University with a Bachelor of Architecture, has continued her art education at The Art League Houston over the past decade, and is a graduate of Houston's 2019 chapter of Artist Inc. She is a founding member of Filipinx Artists of Houston. She enjoys engaging her local community through art collectives centered on healing and hosting art workshops timed with phases of the moon. She currently practices out of her studio at The Silos at Sawyer Yards and has fulfilled art commissions for high-rise residential buildings, universities, churches, and private collectors. Her work has been exhibited in galleries locally in Houston and at the McNay in San Antonio.
Live/Work
Houston, Texas USA
Education
2004-2010 Rice University | Houston, TX
Bachelor of Arts (2008), Bachelor of Architecture (2010)
Exhibitions
2023
“Our Vibrant AAPI Community: Selections from the Houston Asian American Archive” Group exhibition, Julia Ideson Building | Houston, TX curated by Ann Shi
“Lumikhâ: We Are Rising” Group exhibition by Unipro, The Orange Show | Houston, TX curated by Christian Toledo
“Compulsion” Group Exhibition, Silos at Sawyer Yards | Houston, TX
“Thunderball” Group Exhibition, Silver Street Studios at Sawyer Yards | Houston, TX curated by Fresh Arts
2022
“Free Expression” Group Exhibition, Silos at Sawyer Yards | Houston, TX “Winter Exhibit” Group Exhibition, Silos at Sawyer Yards | Houston, TX
“BTS Mural Reveal” Collaboration with Caroline Truong, Ninja Ramen | Houston, TX
2021
“Texas Biennial 2021: A New Landscape/A Possible Horizon” Group exhibition, McNay Art Museum | San Antonio, TX curated by Evan Garza and Ryan Dennis
“Portal of Healing” Solo Site-specific Installation, Rice University | Houston, TX commissioned by the Houston Asian American Archives, curated by Ann Shi
“Pintura, Atbp.” Group Exhibition, Philippine Consulate General of Houston | Houston, TX curated by Matt Manalo
2020
“Intersections: A Contemporary Art Show” Group Exhibition, the 2019 Artist’s Collective of Holy Family HTX | Houston, TX curated by Lanecia Rouse-Tinsley
“Lumikhâ: We Have Begun” Group exhibition by Pilipino American Unity for Progress, Winter Street Studios | Houston, TX curated by Christian Toledo
“We Are Awakened” Group Exhibition, Sawyer Yards | Houston, TX
2019
“Mag-alab: To Be Inflamed” Solo Exhibition, Throughgood Coffee | Houston, TX curated by Lanecia Rouse-Tinsley
“11th Annual Juried Exhibition” Archway Gallery | Houston, TX juried by Penny Sterling
“I Knew I Was An Artist When” Group exhibition, Silos at Sawyer Yards | Houston, TX
“Come Together” Group exhibition, Winter Street Studios | Houston, TX
“Just Ink 8th Annual Show” Group exhibition, Hardy and Nance Studios | Houston, TX
“Internal Artist” Group exhibition, Silos at Sawyer Yards | Houston, TX
“Letting Go” Solo exhibition, Summer Street Studios | Houston, TX
2018
“The Female Gaze” Solo exhibtion, Paradise Lofts | Houston, TX
“Inspiritus” Group Exhibition, Winter Street Studios | Houston, TX
Selected Publications
2022
Joy Sewing, “Houston artists dedicate BTS mural to 10-year-old Uvalde school-shooting victim,” Houston Chronicle, August 8, 2022. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/lifestyle/article/Houston-artists -dedicate-BTS-mural-to-10-year-old-17359180.php
2022
Diane Cowan, “Architect and partner gather modern style, eclectic art in Eastwood area home,” Houston Chronicle, December 12, 2022. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/lifestyle/home-design/article/Ea stwood-home-modern-style-17640340.php#photo-23033321
2021
Erin Keever, “In this Texas Biennial, Texas is the protagonist,” Sightlines Magazine, September 18, 2021. https://sightlinesmag.org/in-this-texas-biennial-texas-is-the-protagonist Gulf Coast Journal 34.1 Issue: Featured Art - Selections from the 2021 Texas Biennial: A New Landscape, A Possible Horizon
Selected Videos
2022
Zainob+Mathew Create, “Portal of Healing,” filmed for Rice University Houston Asian American Archives https://vimeo.com/548027334