Artist’s sculptures play with ideas of “normal”

"Pink Paradise" by Rachel Debuque

Rachel Debuque places her works of art on the threshold between reality and fiction.

Debuque’s sculptures in the “Master of Fine Arts Degree Candidates Exhibition” employ color, pattern and design elements arranged in an installation. Her sculptures resemble the natural world while reflecting “alien” qualities.

“Making is simultaneously terrifying and completely absorbing fun,” said Debuque. She described her process as organic, making decisions as she goes while watching her works of art unfold. Her work plays with color, content and scale, challenging concepts of “home.”

Vibrant color patterns are juxtaposed with flattening matte paint in Debuque’s exit show, which will feature painted wall patterns that interact with repeated 3-D elements. A female performer will also perform tasks throughout the show and in the installation space. Debuque said she is interested in how the body can be both a prop and an activator of space.

Dubuque believes her own experiences reflect a broad cultural experience, and she strives to be honest in her work. She challenges herself by thinking outside the boundaries of what is expected, saying it makes her “feel alive.”

Debuque’s research involves installation, sculpture, video and performance. She has studied and exhibited both nationally and internally. She is an instructor of record in 3-D design at the Lamar Dodd School of Art and is a graduate research assistant for Ideas for Creative Exploration (ICE). She was a recipient of the 2012 Willson Center Graduate Research Grant, which helped create her installation.

The “Master of Fine Arts Degree Candidates Exhibition” is on view at the Georgia Museum of Art March 16 to April 22, 2013, with an opening reception in conjunction with 90 Carlton: Spring on March 22. MFA Speaks is scheduled for March 21 at 5:30 p.m. and will feature the artists discussing their work.