By Ruby Stella
Local artist Rachel Theodorakis is set to unveil her first major solo exhibition since returning from a life-changing residency in Morocco. Known for her striking woven sculptures, Theodorakis has spent years developing a practice that draws on themes of culture, identity, and feminine power.
For six years, her work was defined by black. Then, in 2022, everything changed. A journey to Morocco introduced her to landscapes and cultural traditions so rich that they shifted the very foundations of her practice. Surrounded by vibrant markets, woven textiles, carpets, and the vast desert, she found herself immersed in colour in a way she had never experienced before.
“It was like something cracked open,” Theodorakis reflects. “Colour became a new language for me, a way to express ideas I couldn’t reach before.”
Closer to home, Theodorakis has found fresh inspiration within Footscray’s creative community at both The Art Room and The Cotton Mills. Working from her studio at the historic Cotton Mills, surrounded by fellow artists, she comments, “It’s pure joy, having a studio here is a dream. I’ve found not just a creative space, but a warm, vibrant community.”
She describes the energy of this ecosystem as transformative: “There’s an energy here that pushes me deeper into my materials and process. I feel like I belong, I feel deeply inspired, Footscray has welcomed me with open arms.”
Her exhibition, In-Between, brings all of these influences together. It showcases woven sculptures that carry the energy of Morocco while expressing her long-standing exploration of spirituality and feminine strength.
In-Between opens this month at Parallel Projects at The Art Room, Footscray, offering audiences a chance to experience vivid, powerful colour, in quiet tactile sculptures that invite curiosity and reflection.
Exhibition Details
Where
Parallel Projects, (The Art Room)
138 Cowper St, Footscray, Melbourne
When
4 October–7 November
(gallery closed 3–4 November)
Opening event
Saturday 11 October, 1–3pm
(media welcome)
More info
www.racheltheodorakis.com.au
@racheltheodorakis
