New York city artist, Barbara Rachko's contemporary figurative pastels

Artist’s Biography:

Barbara was born in Paterson, New Jersey, a suburb of New York City, and grew up nearby in Clifton. After graduating from the University of Vermont, she earned a commercial pilot’s license and Boeing 727 flight engineer’s certificate and then spent seven years on active duty as a Naval officer. In 1986, Rachko, while working at the Pentagon, began to study figure drawing and medical anatomy, from here she began many long years of developing her craft.

Barbara later resigned from active duty (but remained in the Navy Reserve and retired as a Commander) in order to devote herself to making art. On 9/11 Barbara’s life was turned upside down when her husband, Bryan Jack, was killed onboard the plane that crashed into the Pentagon. Barbara began studying photography in the summer of 2002 mainly so that she could continue doing her pastels - Bryan had been the person who photographed her set-ups.

Rachko divides her time between residences in New York and Alexandria, Virginia, and enjoys a busy career as a professional artist.

Lives & works: New York City

Open Studio: Yes
Contact Details: 208 West 29th Street, # 605
New York, NY 10001
Opening times: Daily, 10:30 - 5:30, but call first
Telephone: 212-643-6293

Career Stage: Mid-career

Year of Birth: 1953

Artist’s Statement:

My self-invented technique achieves rich textures and vibrant colors. I believe I am pushing pastel to its limits, using it in ways that no one else has done.

The artist's own website is http://www.barbararachko.com