A little information and a video about Rachel’s creative background together with some career highlights.

Biography

Rachel Fitzpatrick graduated from the School of Art & Design in Belfast in 2005 with a degree in Fine and Applied Art specialising in textiles. Since then she has worked with a variety of creative clients across the globe. In the United States she has worked alongside award winning interior designers to create pieces for the rich and famous. A career highlight was an invitation to create huge lighting sculpture for The Hollywood Reporter’s inaugural show house in Century City, Los Angeles.

In Europe, Fitzpatrick has worked closely with French design companies to create massive installations for car manufacturer Peugeot’s flagship showrooms on the Champs Elysee, Paris and the Unter den Linden, Berlin. In Ireland her work as been collected by private clients and can be viewed in Michelin star restaurants in Dublin.

Fitzpatrick has been invited to showcase her work at many global design and trade events from Maison et Objet in Paris, 100% Tokyo in Japan and the Venice Biennale, Italy. In New York, she was invited to collaborate with Wallpaper* and Bergdorf Goodman to create an installation for New York Design Week. Closer to home she has worked with the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland (DDCOI) to create lighting sculptures SHOWCASE Ireland Design event in Dublin.

In recent years Rachel has developed a more socially engaged strand to her practice working closely with galleries, schools and councils in Northern Ireland to create workshops aimed to develop creative skills and confidence. During the 2020-2021 Covid lockdowns Rachel developed a series of children’s online workshops in partnership with the FE McWilliam Gallery & Studio to stimulate creativity and playfulness at home. She currently works closely with the MAC in Belfast as one of their social engaged practitioners supporting their children’s programs and workshops.

Fitzpatrick is committed to supporting the strategic development of the arts sector in Northern Ireland sitting on the boards of both Craft NI and Thrive. She is particularly interested in championing the importance of collaboration across the arts and cultural sectors, cultivating business opportunities and developing international partnerships. Rachel is a member of Design Nation and a co-ordinateer of the Scotland & Northern Ireland Cluster Hub.

Fitzpatrick is regularly invited to deliver, mentor and assess undergraduate art and design courses at the Queens University & University Ulster supporting both creativity and business development. Rachel has recently been invited to be on the Design & Crafts Council of Irelands Peer Mentoring Panel.