"Midsummer" by Rachel Rixen
Watercolor
8’’ by 10’’
Rachel Rixen (American, b. 1991) is a watercolor artist and urban sketcher based in Chicago. Her work is inspired by travel and rooted in capturing the mood, memory, and quiet beauty of everyday life. Originally from suburban Minnesota, Rachel studied French and Cross-Cultural Studies at Augsburg University and later earned a Master’s in Cultural Translation from the American University of Paris. A pivotal moment in her artistic journey came in 2011 during a plein air watercolor course in Italy, where she discovered a deep passion for painting. Since then, she has carried a sketchbook on all her travels and developed a body of work that reflects both personal experience and a deep appreciation for place. In 2014, she founded Lakes and Lights Art, a name that honors both Minneapolis and Paris—cities central to her identity. After nearly a decade in immigration law, she transitioned to art full-time in 2023. Rachel was an artist-in-residence at La Maison de Beaumont in Provence in summer 2024 and will return for another residency in fall 2025.
Watercolor
8’’ by 10’’
Rachel Rixen (American, b. 1991) is a watercolor artist and urban sketcher based in Chicago. Her work is inspired by travel and rooted in capturing the mood, memory, and quiet beauty of everyday life. Originally from suburban Minnesota, Rachel studied French and Cross-Cultural Studies at Augsburg University and later earned a Master’s in Cultural Translation from the American University of Paris. A pivotal moment in her artistic journey came in 2011 during a plein air watercolor course in Italy, where she discovered a deep passion for painting. Since then, she has carried a sketchbook on all her travels and developed a body of work that reflects both personal experience and a deep appreciation for place. In 2014, she founded Lakes and Lights Art, a name that honors both Minneapolis and Paris—cities central to her identity. After nearly a decade in immigration law, she transitioned to art full-time in 2023. Rachel was an artist-in-residence at La Maison de Beaumont in Provence in summer 2024 and will return for another residency in fall 2025.
Watercolor
8’’ by 10’’
Rachel Rixen (American, b. 1991) is a watercolor artist and urban sketcher based in Chicago. Her work is inspired by travel and rooted in capturing the mood, memory, and quiet beauty of everyday life. Originally from suburban Minnesota, Rachel studied French and Cross-Cultural Studies at Augsburg University and later earned a Master’s in Cultural Translation from the American University of Paris. A pivotal moment in her artistic journey came in 2011 during a plein air watercolor course in Italy, where she discovered a deep passion for painting. Since then, she has carried a sketchbook on all her travels and developed a body of work that reflects both personal experience and a deep appreciation for place. In 2014, she founded Lakes and Lights Art, a name that honors both Minneapolis and Paris—cities central to her identity. After nearly a decade in immigration law, she transitioned to art full-time in 2023. Rachel was an artist-in-residence at La Maison de Beaumont in Provence in summer 2024 and will return for another residency in fall 2025.