Artist Spotlight - Patricia RAIN Gianneschi — Contemporary Art Curator Magazine

Biography

Patricia RAIN Gianneschi: Visual Artist, Musician, Teacher, Gardener, Thinker, Activist, Mother, Wife, Sister, Daughter, Lover, Friend. RAIN was born and raised in Chicago, and is an artist working across Poetics. In her multimedia work, whether music or visual art, the intersection of social justice and spirituality is a thread that runs through all the disciplines of her work. As a teaching artist with students, from the classroom to the stage at the Art Institute of Chicago, she weaves a pedagogy with the same threads of spirituality and social justice. Her paintings, prints and drawings going back over 40+ years represent an artistic practice rich in ideas, content, creativity and authenticity.

‘FALLEN’
fallen angel fallen woman fallen nation fallen world fallen leader fallen spirit fallen bridges fallen mountains fallen trees fallen branches fallen leaves fallen columns fallen walls fallen fences fallen houses fallen humanity fallen steeples fallen crosses fallen heroes fallen spheres fallen rain.
2017, mixed media, handmade paper, oil on canvas 2017, 152.4 cm X 182.88 cm

RAIN is currently a founding member of the art collective: MOTHER ART: REVISITED
Educated in the Arts at University of California, Berkeley. RAIN holds two degrees from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, a Master’s in Art Education, and a Master of Fine Arts. She has served as a teaching artist for the Chicago Public Schools for 22 years, and as adjunct faculty in Art Education at The School of the Art institute of Chicago. Recent exhibitions include Chicago, London, Athens, Mexico City, Barcelona, Monaco, Madrid, Prague, Slovakia, Dubai, Rome, Milan, and Venice.

Prayer, Protest & Peace in Paint 2017 Tryptic, mixed media, oil on canvas 274.32 X 121.92

RAIN CV
Patricia RAIN Gianneschi

2012–2025 IATSE #476 Studio Teacher, Currently: NBC Universal: Chicago P.D; Chicago Med
All Chicago Productions, All NBC Shows, The CHI, Shameless, Empire, Electric Dreams, Jupiter Ascending, Utopia, In My Name, APB, Patriot, Time Travelers Wife, Somebody Somewhere & Various Commercials
2012–2013 Teaching Artist, Supervising Adjunct Faculty, Department of Art Education, SAIC, Teaching Artist Chicago Public Schools; George Armstrong School
1990–2012 Teaching Artist, Ox-Bow School of Art, ART ON THE MEADOW, “OUTSIDER ART”
Advanced Degrees: MFA 2017, School of the Art Institute of Chicago; MAAE, 2004 School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Degrees: BFA/BFAT (1977–79); University of California, Berkeley K–12 Art Certification

FALLEN NATION 2019 mixed media, oil on canvas 76.2 X 76.2

Exhibitions:

2025: M.A.D.S. GALLERY, Milan; Venezia Contemporanea , La Storta, Venice Artist Residency & Exhibition, Cannaregio, Venice, Print Residency; Scoula Internationale di Grafica, Cannaregio, Venice
2024: Red Dot Miami, Art Expo NY, The Hamptons Art Fair, Art Number 23, Tokyo, Rome, Dubai Artist Residency & MA:R Exhibition Venezia Contemporanea , La Storta Venice
2023: M.A.D.S. ART GALLERY, Milan, “RAIN GONE WILD” Virtual Exhibition; TIMES SQUARE NYC; ART BASEL MIAMI, RED DOT, ARTIFACT GALLERY, Art Number23, TOKYO ART FAIR; Perseus Gallery, ART EXPO New York, Fresno State College, “PARAMETERS OF WHAT IT IS TO BE”, MA:R “I’M TIRED”; Clovis Community College, “A Conjugated Artist in Prints and Poetry” Solo Exhibition, Clovis College Gallery, Fresno, Ca., South Haven Art Center, GROUP SHOW, Michigan
2022: SPILTMILK Gallery; Edinburgh, “If Not now When?” WO FOUNDATION GALLERY, Madrid, “Disrupted”, ARTS TO HEARTS PROJECTS, Mumbai, New Delhi, India, “Treasured Moments”, M.A.D.S. ART GALLERY, Milan, & Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, “N.F.T. New Freedom Think”, M.A.D.S. GALLERY; FIABCN Fira Internacional d’Art de Barcelona, M.A.D.S. GALLERY; LE PEDERA EVENT, Casa Mila, Barcelona, M.A.D.S. Art Gallery, Milan & Fuerteventura, C.I.; “YELLOW” Van Gogh Gallery, Madrid, “Monaco Art Fair 2022” Monaco, France

2021: Art Expo New York, Perseus Gallery CAD: Chicago Art Gallery, Chicago: Mother Art Revisited Summit Exhibition South Haven Art Center, Michigan, “Six Feet Apart” Painting Exhibition Art Number 23, London & Athens, Solo Virtual Exhibition, Ox Bow School of Art, Saugatuck; Michigan MAR Summit & Residency, Oxbow School of Art
2020: Covid-Cancelled Shows: 2020: EXPO New York , Perseus Gallery, Solo Show Art Number 23, London; Virtual Mother Art: Revisited Collective Summit, Chicago Art Department Gallery, Chicago; Virtual “Occupying the In-Between” Goldsmith, University of London; MAR Responds to “ON TYRANNY” 20 Lessons from the 20th Century, The Postcard Project
2019: RED DOT MIAMI & SOFA CHICAGO, Perseus Gallery, Gallery ART NUMBER 23 Exhibitions; ‘VICIOUS CIRCLE’ London, ‘CHAPTER I” London, ‘SEEN FORMS”, Prague, Anthropologio, Athens, “SYNERGIC”; Gallery Ovalo, Mexico City, AIP Residency Show, “SEEN/UNSEEN” Carmona, Spain; “CitizenSHIP” Riverside Art Center, Ypsilanti, Michigan; “Twisted Oyster Film Festival; Vital Signs” Athens, Greece ; “Interruption”: Mother Art Revisited Collective Exhibition, Hairpin Art Center, Chicago; “Enlighten”, Art Center HP, Highland Park; The Other Art Fair Chicago, Mana Contemporary; Chicago “Beyond the Selfie”, Highland Park;

After Calvary, 2020 oil on canvas 182.88 X 121.92

2018: “Metamorphosis/Paramorphosis” & Alpha Theta, Gallery Art Number 23, Old Biscuit Factory, London & Slovakia; “Studio Visit” Print Exhibition; 2017, 2018 & 2019; 2018; “Project Resist Fear”; Art Center HP; Highland Park; “8 X 8 Portraits”, Zhou Bros; Chicago, The Other Art Fair Chicago; National Art Education Women’s Caucus Juried Art Exhibition, Seattle; 2018 National MFA WET PAINT Exhibition, Zhou B Art Center, Chicago; Garage Gallery, Chicago “Mother Art: Revisited Collective Exhibition;
2017: SAIC MFA Thesis Exhibition, Sullivan Galleries
2016, Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, Vermont; Throop Street Show LRMFA Group Exhibit, 2009, Chicago; 2003, Teaching Artists CPS, Chicago Cultural Center; 2015, Main Street Museum; 1990-2000, “RAIN “ One-Woman show, Gallery 1633, Chicago

AFTER FALLEN BLACK STORM 2020, mixed media, oil on canvas 76.2 X 76.2RAIN GONE WILD

Publications:

2020 “50 Women”; “Carmona Illustration”, Developing a Visually Reflective Practice: A Model for Professional Self-Study for publication, by Intellect;
2019 March 2018 National Art Education Women’s Caucus Exhibition in print;
Art Expo Chicago, Featured Painting in print catalog, “FALLEN”,
January 2018, STUDIO VISIT Exhibition in Print, volume 39;
2018; MFA THESIS 2017, “Becoming RAIN; Art , Spirit & Social Justice";
MFA THESIS 2004, “Becoming Women; Art & Leadership for Adolescent Girls”, Flaxman Library SAIC Chicago;
2004 AIC Commission “The Last Flowers of Manet, Performance Rubloff Auditorium, AIC,
2000, “Magic In America” Performance AIC;
2017 “Just Words & Just Words II” Poetry Books, SAIC Special Collections Library, Flaxman Library.

Rain Gone Wild 1987, oil on canvas, 121.92 X 91.44. (This painting was recently shown in Times Square NYC)

Music:

2017 “Six Days At The Mouse House” Recording.
2001 “I & I”, FFB Productions, Chicago; 1981-1988.
L.A. Music Awards Americana Artist & Americana Album of the Year
2020, “RAIN JIVE LIVE” A Podcast

OXBOW SUNSET, 2016 oil n canvas 45.72 x 60.96. (painted in the dark with a headlamp at OXBOW Michigan, @ SAIC summer school of the Arts on artist residency)ts

Feature Paintings:

2018 20the Century Fox, “EMPIRE” Synesthesia,
2009, “SABLE”, MGM/Gerber, Chicago.
2021, “Ripple Effect”, Prop Designer, “The Circus Scene”

OxBow Sunset Chalks, 2016 Chalk pastels on Arches Paper 45.72 X 60.96

Awards:

2018 National WET PAINT MFA NXT Level Art of Excellence Award, Zhou B Center, Chicago
2019, 2021, 2022 AIP Artist In Appointment, Tuscany Italy
2010, LA Music Awards; Americana Artist & Album of the Year
2002 & 2003 William Carr Oldendorf Award, Ox-Bow;
2001, Robert Rauschenberg Power of Art Award, Washington, D.C.;
1998 & 1999, Illinois Alliance for the Arts;

OxBow Sunset RED, 2020 oil on canvas 121.92 X 91.44

Grants:

2006-2012, Oppenheimer Family Foundation Teacher Incentive Grants, Chicago;
1996-2012, Illinois State University;
1993-2009, Chicago Foundation For Education, Chicago;
1991, Rochelle Lee Grant, Chicago;
1981 Illinois Arts Council,
2003-2009, Art Institute of Chicago, Performance Art; “Artists in the Galleries”,
2015-2018 Chair, Caucus for the Spiritual in Art Education, NAEA;
2013 Elementary Chair, Caucus for the Spiritual in Art Education; NAEA, Fellowships,
2010 & 2012, Intuit Gallery, Chicago.

Blue On Blue, 2024 oil on canvas 213.36 X 121.92

Artist Statement

Fantasy and Ancient Dreams, along with Spirituality & Social justice, are threads that are woven throughout my multi-media work, looking back, my oeuvre spans nearly 40+ years of Art making and Teaching Art. In my work, my desire is to bring the viewer into a space where they become open to the forces of imagination and spirit. I believe Art can transform us. I believe art can take us to a new awareness, create new sensations, and form. For me, the act of painting is an act of spiritual practice. I enter the painting with body and mind, searching for the images as I wander through the canvas, pickup my guitar, play piano or sit down to write. I am a conjugated artist, working across poetics.

www.praingianneschiart.com
www.iTunes.com/pattirain