Rachel Durfee

Bio

Rachel Durfee’s richly colored etchings, woodcuts and paper constructions symbolically explore how we can thrive in the gap between life as it is and life as it ought to be. In her work the paradoxical architecture of existence is often populated with disappointment and resentment but also hope and purpose—with a dash of wit. Also a writer, Ms. Durfee composes poems that accompany each piece. Ms. Durfee has exhibited nationally and internationally. Her works are included in private and public collections including the Milwaukee Art Museum, The Vatican, The Warehouse Gallery Shannon Serr Permanent Collection, Wheaton College, the University of Wisconsin, Cornerstone University, Promega Corporation, and Summit Credit Union. She has received several honors for her work as an artist and poet including a First Place Award in 2017 for the print, All That is Kept Within My Heart, in the CIVA (Christians in The Visual Arts) First Fruits traveling juried exhibition, and an Honorable Mention for the poem, Of Many Wings, in the 2020 Wisconsin People and Ideas Poetry Contest. Her work has been published in various publications including her poem, Of Many Wings, in the Wisconsin People and Ideas Magazine in 2021, a feature article about her work in Edge of Faith Magazine in 2018, and this piece, Stand Firm, along with the piece For Those in Captivity are featured in the book, Dwelling with Philippians: A Conversation with Scripture through Image and Word, 2010, Wm. B. Eerdmans and Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, edited by Borger, Detterman, Steele Halstead, and Witvliet. Ms. Durfee received her Master of Fine Arts degree in printmaking from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Cornell University. She lives and works in Madison, Wisconsin with her husband, two sons and a 30” x 60” etching press.