Rachel Hernández Pumarejo was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She completed her studies in Theory and Practice of Transnational Art at Camberwell College of Arts, University of the Arts London, 2009 and Image and Design at Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico, 2008. Rachel was chosen to participate in the International Exchange Program held by the Graphic Design department at Rhode Island School of Design. Her practice as a professional designer has influenced her work as an artist, where she has expressed strong ethical standpoints that are visible throughout her recent work, which lately has centred on the social experience of the obese population. As a designer, her work has evolved around the philosophy of Milton Glaser, ‘do no harm’, which she has applied to design in the condition of it being universal and accessible to all, especially to impaired individuals, such as blind and deaf people. Her most recent work deals with the notion of empathy and how it can be implemented in creative production, especially its methodology. This study on ethics and aesthetics builds on her experience as an artist and designer. She is currently doing freelance work as a designer and working on a project that deals with the concept of connectivity in reference with Río Piedras Marketplace in Puerto Rico.
Awards and Scholarships
Painter Jorge Rechany Award by Painter Jorge Rechany Foundation and Escuela de Artes Plásticas, Puerto Rico.
Carlos Collazo Award, by Escuela de Artes Plásticas, Puerto Rico.
Honor Roll, by Escuela de Artes Plásticas, Puerto Rico.
Finalist Cúspide 2008, for website Lee y Sueña, with creative group at Centro de Diseño de la Escuela de Artes Plásticas, Puerto Rico.
Publications
2009
Sheila Pontis, “The other, i am that other, i am you…”, part of the MA/VA TrAIN Graduate Exhibition Catalogue, Camberwell College of Arts and House Gallery, London, UK.
2010
Dones y Dones (Mujeres y Mujeres), Centro de Estudios Avanzados de Puerto Rico y el Caribe, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
MA/VA 2009 Graduate Exhibition, Camberwell College of Arts/ House Gallery, London, UK.
Pulguero de los Artistas, San Juan, PR.
Noche de Arte Electrónico, Departamento de Bellas Artes, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, PR.
Mid Term Exhibit MA/VA TrAIN, Camberwell College of Arts, London, UK.
2008
Dissappearing Palestine, Camberwell College of Arts, London, UK.
Work in Progress Exhibition MA/VA Graphics, Camberwell College of Arts, London, UK.
Exhibición de Graduados, Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR.
Exhibición del Departamento de Imagen y Diseño, Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR.
PUBLiCA 2, ÁREA Lugar de Proyectos, Caguas, PR.
2007
Exhibición del Departamento de Imagen y Diseño, Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR.
2006
Exhibición del Departamento de Artes Gráficas, Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR.
2004
Exhibición del Departamento de Artes Gráficas, Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR.
2008-09 MA Visual Arts / Theory and Practice of Transnational Art (2:1) Camberwell College of Arts / University of the Arts London London, United Kingdom
2003-08 BFA Image and Design (Magna Cum Laude) Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico San Juan, Puerto Rico
2007 International Exchange Program Rhode Island School of Design Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Seminar by Julio Valdez, Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR.
Seminar by Leopoldo Maler, Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR.
