RACHEL MATTHEWS

rachelmatthewsdesigns@gmail.com | 813 7th St. NE, Washington, DC, 20002 | 918.645.4066 | rachelmatthewsdesigns.com

SUMMARY
First year graduate student in the Masters in Exhibition Design program at the Corcoran School of the
Arts and Design in George Washington University. Creative, motivated, and innovative self-starter with
four years and a broad range of work experience within the realms of the retail merchandising, art,
exhibitions, and education. Passion for solving visual problems, creating visual experiences, and telling
stories using an intuitive design sensibility, strong artistic talent, and the ability to collaborate with a
wide range of people.

EDUCATION
MA Exhibition Design, Corcoran School of Art and Design at GWU
BA Studio Art, Trinity University
Minor in Sociology
Baker Duncan Art Scholarship Recipient
Bucknell University
Syracuse University Florence

August 2016- Present

August 2009-May 2012

August 2008-May 2009

January 2011-May 2011

ORGANIZATIONS
SEGD Society of Experiential Graphic Designers

August 2016-Present

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Rachel Matthews Designs
May 2012-Present
Visual Artist and Designer, rachelmatthewsdesigns.com
Practicing art jeweler juxtaposing natural and precious materials to explore ideas of value,
collection, and connection between object and memory.
In addition to personal practice, providing web design services and creating custom portraits.
Holbrook Campbell Lawson Fine Art Consultancy, Tulsa, Oklahoma
January 2016-Present
Special Projects Manager
Responsible for managing and tracking several projects at once, mainly assisting with research,
concept, graphic design, and layout for exhibitions and art installations curated and organized
by Dr. Lawson at museums, galleries, universities, and businesses.
Further responsibilities include website design/maintenance, cataloguing, researching, and
appraisal of private collections.
Tulsa Artist Fellowship, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Program Assistant (Temporary Position)

April 2016- August 2016

Assisted with the realization of the inaugural year of the Tulsa Artist Fellowship program, an
artist residency program created to cultivate Tulsas art scene by both supporting
local artists and attracting national artists.
Using arts background and public relations experience, helped Program Director
conceptualize programming to increase interaction between artists and the Tulsa community
and provide professional development and exhibition space for artists.
Additionally, conducted blog interviews, assisted with website, social media and graphics.
Trinity University, San Antonio, TX
January 2015- November 2015
Campus Art Curator / Adjunct Faculty
Trinity University, San Antonio, TX
(Proposed and acquired funding for temporary position to the university)
Designed and taught experiential learning course, Topics in Studio Art: The Art of Curating,
which provided students with real world experience organizing an exhibition from start to finish
from coming up with a concept for a group show, to writing a press release and planning an
opening, to layout and installation. Course resulted in three exhibitions of artwork displayed in
the Coates University Center and Coates Library, one now permanently installed in the CUC.
Equinox Jewelry Gallery, San Antonio, TX
May 2013- November 2015
Merchandising Manager / Curator
Curated nine successful exhibitions of local, national, and international studio jewelers.
In charge of visual merchandising and gallery layout, designed new exhibition room.
Further responsibilities: exhibition installation, artist correspondence, social media/ website
management, macro jewelry/event photography, customer service, inventory management.
Trinity University, San Antonio, TX
February 2013- December 2014
Program Assistant, Mellon Initiative for Undergraduate Research in the Arts and Humanities
Assisted Program Director in setting up the foundation for the program in its first two years.
Served as the student and faculty liaison for Mellon Initiative Summer Research Fellowships.
Designed new Mellon office/humanities lab with gallery space to curate exhibitions of student
artwork, prompting the proposal of the Campus Art Curator position.
Additional responsibilities: organizing and managing budget, scheduling and
organizing program events, and program PR (blogging, web design/ social media).
Whole Earth Provision Company, San Antonio, TX
May 2012 - August 2013
Visual Sales Associate
Collaborated with the Merchandising Team to perform floor moves, merchandise wide range
of product, and design monthly window displays, while providing exemplary customer service
for upscale outdoor clothing outfitter.

skills
Retail: Visual Merchandising, Customer Service, Inventory Management, POS
Software: Microsoft Office Suite, Photoshop, Sketchup, Developing understanding of Vectorworks
Technical Artistic Proficiency: Drafting, Metalsmithing, Photography, Watercolor
Language: Written and spoken French proficiency