Feature image: Rachel Hellerich, Where Light Falls, 2020, Acrylic and flashe on panel, 30 x 30 inches. Courtesy of the artist.
Written by Frank Juárez
On June 28, 2025, I attended the Great Lakes Invitational Art Fair in Kewaunee, Wisconsin. June was an unusual month for art fairs in Wisconsin, as I have been involved in the art world for over 20 years and have never seen more than one art fair in a single month. There was definitely something in the Wisconsin air. This art fair was different than what we typically would expect to see. Instead of galleries, 20 artists from across the U.S. exhibit works ranging from paintings to sculpture, mixed media to photography, installation to drawings. As I walked through the exhibition space, I came across paintings by Connecticut-based artist Rachel Hellerich. The vertical orientation of two sets of abstract paintings with similar color schemes and compositions caught my attention. After a brief conversation with the artist, I continued to move throughout the art fair. Her paintings left an impression on me, and I wanted to know more about her and her process.
Abstraction can oftentimes be difficult to understand. What we see on the outside tends not to be what the artist is communicating from the inside. Yes, we can decide if we enjoy the paintings and view the work for an extended period of time, or we can acknowledge it with a glance and walk to the next work of art. With abstraction, there is always a story to be told.
Look more. Think more.
Hellerich’s abstract paintings are embedded with research, ideation, the exploration of Asian art, the work of architect Tadao Ando, textiles, and the environment. The way she orchestrates her use of color and composition gives a sense of movement in a similar way that light enters a room. The direction of the light slowly changes as time passes on just like when a viewer looks at “Square Sequence: Flame (2025),” resulting in a contemplative and meditative experience. Her work creates a personal space that invites viewers to put themselves somewhere else, even for just a moment. Abstraction is interpretive, welcoming the opportunity to wonder, wander, and make connections.
When I view an artist’s work, my way of making connections is thinking of which artists the work reminds me of and what my experiences have been looking at their work in person. Some artists that come to mind are Rob de Oude, Paul Corio, Bridget Riley, and James Turrell. I realize that artists may not like to be compared to someone else because each artist is unique. But the fact is, as artists, we are inspired and influenced by the work of others. The patterned repetition of lines and shapes in Hellerich’s work creates a sense of calmness, and the gradation of color reminds me of how light changes throughout the day, affecting our well-being. The dimensional space creates an atmospheric presence that is not only constructed mentally but felt viscerally.
Life Impacts Experience
Being close to water is an element that emanates from her work. Water is something I relate to and understand the type of impact it can have on us. One piece in particular, “Crystalline Sea (2024),” had a profound effect on me. It reminded me of a personal artifact that I had as a child, given by my mother, which I got rid of in my early 20s. Those feelings resurfaced with no hesitation. During the pandemic, visiting Lake Michigan became my coping mechanism, understanding that what may feel like eternity was indeed temporary.
Perception shapes our experience. Experience opens our vulnerability. Vulnerability enables us to understand the world we live in and one another.
Artist Statement
Rachel Hellerich’s paintings use a combination of pattern and hard-edge abstraction to create places that exist on both a distant and magnified plane. In her studio practice, she chooses specific color combinations to guide each painting into movement, enabling the geometric planes to undulate and bend. Often, there is a grid foundation that is expanded upon, where forms evolve into waves, window passages, rock faces, and architectural structures. In her mid-century home that also contains her studio, this language continues with a passion for living amongst furniture and design from this period, and creating spaces within the home that carry on in this tradition.
Biography
Hellerich received a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (2004) and a Bachelor of Science from Southern Connecticut State University (2003). She has exhibited widely in the NY region, most recently at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, The Painting Center, Ortega y Gasset Projects, as well as George Billis Gallery.
To learn more about Rachel Hellerich, visit rachelhellerich.com and connect with her on Instagram at @rachelhellerich.
Frank Juárez is an award-winning art educator, curator, and arts advocate based in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Known for his commitment to elevating contemporary art and supporting Wisconsin artists, Juárez has spearheaded numerous initiatives, including the Midwest Artist Studios Project and the 365 Artists 365 Days Project. In addition to his roles as publisher of Artdose magazine and editor-in-chief of SchoolArts magazine, Juárez has curated exhibitions and juried art shows throughout the Midwest. His dedication to art education and advocacy has earned him numerous accolades, making him a pivotal figure in Wisconsin’s art community.