About

Rachel Suzanne is an artist and educator. Based in NE Ohio, Smith creates wearable sculpture using traditional metalsmithing and CAD/CAM processes.

Process

Special thanks to Ohio Arts Council, Oberlin College Art Department, Kent State School of Art, AW Metals, and Sears Think[box] for providing access to facilities and resources that make this all possible.

Exhibition Highlights

Rachel Suzanne’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. A full list can be found in her CV. Enjoy a few exhibition highlights here!

Studio News

43rd Contemporary Crafts Show: Jennifer Ramirez and Rachel Suzanne Smith’s collaborative piece, Goldenrod, and Rachel’s piece Knapweed (Cut Back) Bracelet Series have been included in the juried 43th Annual Contemporary Crafts Show at the Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum. A catalog of the full show can be viewed here.

The Best of 2022: Rachel Suzanne Smith will be showing her Wearable Wallpaper brooch wall at the Ohio Craft Museum for their Best of 2022 exhibition. The show will be on display from May 8th- June 26, 2022. It will then travel to Kent State University, where it will be shown August 25–September 29, 2022.

On Instagram

🌸🌸🍃🍃New Work!🍃🍃🌸🌸 I am starting a milkweed series and this is my first go at it. Same piece as posted before, but @kayode_photo also got documentation with a white background. 🌸 My partner says I look like a final boss from a video game in some of these (intimidating? Intense?)- I don’t know about all that, but giving final boss energy to milkweed is not a bad thing 😅🌸🍃 #sculpturetowear #sculpture #wearart #milkweed #wildflowers #supportpollinators #supportmonarchs #aluminum #waterjetcutting #powdercoating #snagmember #ohiocraft #ohiodesignercraftsmen #rachelsuzannesmith #rachelsuzannemetals #makeart #digitalfabrication #contemporaryartjewelry #artjewellery 🌸🌸🍃New work 🍃🌸🌸This piece is inspired by milkweed, the host plant for monarchs and monarch caterpillars. I made the decision to lean into patterning, abstraction, and jewel tones to really add to the gloss, flow, and opulence of the design. 🐛🐛💎💎 Thank you to @jenramirezart for the design critique at each stage and powder coating teamwork 💐 Thanks to @davin.ebanks as well for the assist and support! 🌸🍃 Photos by @kayode_photo and more to come! 🍃🌸 Thank you, Kayode, for taking the time to play around with lighting options for these photos. I wanted these photos to feel inviting, approachable, and spark a feeling of curiosity in a warm or softer environment. We also took photos on a bright white background to laser in on and highlight details, so stay tuned! 🌸🌸🍃🍃 #newwork #artjewelry #wearart #wearablesculpture #sculpturetowear #milkweed #supportpollinators #pollinatorplants #monarchs #notaweed #wildflowers #contemporaryartjewelry #snagmember #ohiocraft #maker #waterjet #powdercoating #powdercoat Another piece photographed by @kayode_photo 🌸 We used the photo backdrop at @cwruthinkbox in addition to some of the special lighting that Kayode brought along. 🌸 This piece goes with the other. I made both as a pair a few years ago, but I was not able to document the work on the body and get the details of the chameleon color change powder coat color to show up. I really appreciate how Kayode considered both light and color when taking the photos to convey and explore the feel of the work and the gradient from the chameleon color 🌸 NE Ohio people needing good photos- be sure to check out Kayode’s photography and work! And know that anyone can always come to thinkbox to use our photo backdrops and setup for your photo needs! 🌸 #newphotosofoldwork #documentingart #wearablesculpture #wearart #sculpturetowear #contemporaryaryjewrlry #artjewelry #aluminum #powdercoat #ruff #flora #biophelia #rachelsuzannesmith #rachelsuzanne #kayodephoto @kayode_photo - thank you for taking such fantastic photos of my work. I am so excited to share the new photos and eventually update my website with them! 🌸We used the photo backdrop at @cwruthinkbox in addition to some of the special lighting that Kayode brought along. 🌸 This is a piece I made a few years ago, but I struggled to capture the work on the body and get the details of color and texture to show up. NE Ohio people needing good photos- be sure to check out Kayode’s photography and work! And know that anyone can always come to thinkbox to use our photo backdrops and setup for your photo needs! 🌸 #newphotosofoldwork #documentingart #wearableart #wearablesculpture #sculpturetowear #contemporaryaryjewrlry #artjewelry #aluminum #powdercoat #ruff #flora #biophelia #rachelsuzannesmith #rachelsuzanne #kayodephoto @jenramirezart took photos of me powder coating my new piece! It can be tough to get controlled gradients or color balances correct, especially with how colors look different in powder form than cured. I apply thin layers, think about and use the form of the piece to my advantage, try to respond to the process, and occasionally use light puffs of compressed air to pull back a bit of color if I put on too much before I put it in the oven! Process powder coating photos! Huge thanks to @jenramirezart for both documenting and assisting!! And thank you to @davin.ebanks for the large scale powder coating curing help! This is the bottom layer of color that I applied on my new piece. I used both copper and silver vein from @eastwoodco to create a warm to cool under tone. I also was able to get moments of bare aluminum for contrast by powder coating over heat resistant tape. This will be softened by layering colors over top, but it is really fun at this stage, too! #wip #workinprogress #newwork #process #powdercoat #heattape #masking #contrast #aluminum #wearablesculpture #studiowork #coloronmetal #powdercoating #snagmember #ohiocraft #contemporaryjewelryart #contemporaryartjewelry #ohiodesignercraftsmen #maker #digitalfabrication Powder coating behind the scenes 💚 #artjewelry #powdercoat #wearablesculpture #process #howitsmade #waterjertcut #ruff #wearart #coloronmetal #snagmember #ohiocraft #ohioart Process photos from months ago! This is how I made the bust for my @acadianps piece that is now in the visitor center! I used my general measurements to plan an abstracted figure/bust that slotted together and would hold my neck ruff. I cut the plywood on a CNC router and laser etched photos from the park using the equipment @cwruthinkbox 🥽 🤖 Next, i made a few edits with a jigsaw and connected the parts. I stained the plywood with milk paint and sealed it multiple times, until the etching stopped soaking up the polyurethane. Finally, I 3d printed low relief images of moss, barnacles, seaweed, and lichen from photos I took in the park. After a bit of color manipulation with spray paint, I was ready to flock the piece and attach the resin prints 🌱🎉 #process #cnc #polyjet #wearableart #artjewelry #acadia #acadianationalpark #moss #seaweed #barnacles #lichen #softground #reflection #contemporaryartjewelry #messystudio #snagmember #ohiocraft #maker #artist #artistinreaidence #searsthinkbox #thinkbox #tbx Last weekend my family was willing to dive into a project to help me out! I needed to adjust a pattern to fit my head ✨just right✨ for my own custom welding caps 🥰🥰🥰 We discovered that the pattern for the safety fur-st shop cats cap was not perfect for my small lil noggin, but you can bet I will still be wearing it 😻 Since then, my mom has continued to adjust the pattern and is prototyping in muslin and old cotton pillowcases 💕💕💕 coming soon: caps for each day of the week. Not pictured but present and appreciated: my dad and brother in law hanging out. It was so nice to hang out around the table and create the best welding cap with the best company 😁 #familyproject #sewing #custom #weldingcap #myheadissosmall #ifitfitsitsits #ifitfitsitsits😸 #cats #shopcats #metalsmith #ppe #safetyfirst #craftyfamily #craftersgonnacraft #familytime

Keep in Touch

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rachel.suzanne.metals@gmail.com

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How to Purchase

Rachel Suzanne’s art jewelry is sold at Ombre Gallery in Cincinnati, OH. Rachel also creates custom works through Ombre Gallery. A limited selection of home décor can be found at the Metal Museum Store in Memphis, TN.

Ombre Gallery- Rachel Suzanne