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“Two on Fire” (2021) by Rachel Eulena Williams heavy duty cotton rope
A NEW BODY of three-dimensional paintings by Rachel Eulena Williams is on view at Xavier Hufkens Gallery in Brussels. “Joy and Rain” features 13 paintings made in 2021, including five tondos. Williams begins each work with untreated cotton and canvas. She employs paint and fabric dye to color the textiles and then cuts them and uses the fragments to compose her final works. The sculptural paintings are glued and stitched together, overpainted, and embellished with a variety of rope, cord, and string. The improvisational method essentially results in several works of art being incorporated into each lyrical painting. Born in Miami, Fla., Williams is based in Brooklyn, N.Y. CT
“Rachel Eulena Williams: Joy and Rain” is on view at Xavier Hufkens Gallery, Tivoli, in Brussels, Belgium, from Jan.13-Feb. 19, 2022
FIND MORE about the exhibition
Rachel Eulena Williams in her studio, 2019. | Photo by Nicholas Calcott
Installation view (exterior) of “Rachel Eulena Williams: Joy and Rain,” Xavier Hufkens Gallery, Tivoli, Brussels, Belgium (Jan 13-Feb. 19, 2022). Shown, “Weary White,” 2021. | Photo by Allard Bovenberg, Courtesy the artist and Xavier Hufkens, Brussels
RACHEL EULENA WILLIAMS, “Weary White,” 2021 (acrylic paint and dye on canvas, cotton rope and twine on wood, 107 x 107 x 7 cm / 42 1/8 x 42 1/8 x 2 3/4 inches). | Photo by HV-studio, Courtesy the artist and Xavier Hufkens, Brussels
Installation view of RACHEL EULENA WILLIAMS, “One on Rain,” 2021 (silkscreen, acrylic paint and dye on canvas and cotton rope on wood panel, 153 x 128.5 x 10 cm / 60 1/4 x 50 5/8 x 4 inches), “Rachel Eulena Williams: Joy and Rain,” Xavier Hufkens Gallery, Tivoli, Brussels, Belgium (Jan 13-Feb. 19, 2022). | Photo by Allard Bovenberg, Courtesy the artist and Xavier Hufkens, Brussels
RACHEL EULENA WILLIAMS, “She (Purple Dew),” 2021 (acrylic paint on canvas, vinyl, rope and wood panel, 189 x 80 x 13 cm / 74 3/8 x 31 1/2 x 5 1/8 inches). | Photo by HV-studio, Courtesy the artist and Xavier Hufkens, Brussels
Detail of RACHEL EULENA WILLIAMS, “She (Purple Dew),” 2021 (acrylic paint on canvas, vinyl, rope and wood panel, 189 x 80 x 13 cm / 74 3/8 x 31 1/2 x 5 1/8 inches). | Photo by HV-studio, Courtesy the artist and Xavier Hufkens, Brussels
Installation view of “Rachel Eulena Williams: Joy and Rain,” Xavier Hufkens Gallery, Tivoli, Brussels, Belgium (Jan 13-Feb. 19, 2022). Shown, from left, “Sun Umbrella,” 2021; “Play of Jazz,” 2021; “Alice in Flow,” 2021; and “Twilight Purple Fields,” 2021. | Photo by Allard Bovenberg, Courtesy the artist and Xavier Hufkens, Brussels
RACHEL EULENA WILLIAMS, “Play of Jazz,” 2021 (silkscreen, acrylic paint and dye on canvas, cotton rope and twine on wood, 107 x 107 x 7 cm / 42 1/8 x 42 1/8 x 2 3/4 inches). | Photo by HV-studio, Courtesy the artist and Xavier Hufkens, Brussels
Installation view of RACHEL EULENA WILLIAMS, “Black Raindrops on Roses,” 2021 (silkscreen, acrylic paint and dye on canvas, linen and rope, 210 x 257 x 11 cm / 82 5/8 x 101 1/8 x 4 3/8 inches), “Rachel Eulena Williams: Joy and Rain,” Xavier Hufkens Gallery, Tivoli, Brussels, Belgium (Jan 13-Feb. 19, 2022). | Photo by Allard Bovenberg, Courtesy the artist and Xavier Hufkens, Brussels
RACHEL EULENA WILLIAMS, “Black Raindrops on Roses,” 2021 (silkscreen, acrylic paint and dye on canvas, linen and rope, 210 x 257 x 11 cm / 82 5/8 x 101 1/8 x 4 3/8 inches). | Photo by HV-studio, Courtesy the artist and Xavier Hufkens, Brussels
Installation view of RACHEL EULENA WILLIAMS, “Strange Woman, American Fruit,” 2021 (acrylic paint on canvas, vinyl, cotton rope and wood panel, 190.5 x 121.9 x 12.7 cm / 75 x 48 x 5 inches), “Rachel Eulena Williams: Joy and Rain,” Xavier Hufkens Gallery, Tivoli, Brussels, Belgium (Jan 13-Feb. 19, 2022). | Photo by Allard Bovenberg, Courtesy the artist and Xavier Hufkens, Brussels
Installation view of “Rachel Eulena Williams: Joy and Rain,” Xavier Hufkens Gallery, Tivoli, Brussels, Belgium (Jan 13-Feb. 19, 2022). Shown, from left, “Strange Woman, American Fruit,” 2021; and “She (Purple Dew),” 2021. | Photo by Allard Bovenberg, Courtesy the artist and Xavier Hufkens, Brussels
RACHEL EULENA WILLIAMS, Detail of “Two on Fire,” 2021 (acrylic paint and dye on canvas and cotton rope on wood panel, 168 x 254 x 10 cm / 66 1/8 x 100 x 4 inches). | Photo by HV-studio, Courtesy the artist and Xavier Hufkens, Brussels
TOP IMAGE: RACHEL EULENA WILLIAMS, “Two on Fire,” 2021 (acrylic paint and dye on canvas and cotton rope on wood panel, 168 x 254 x 10 cm / 66 1/8 x 100 x 4 inches). | Photo by HV-studio, Courtesy the artist and Xavier Hufkens, Brussels
FIND MORE Listen to Rachel Eulena Williams explain her work in a brief video made by Canada Gallery
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