Artist Statement: Duet is an exuberant, high-contrast, symmetrical illustration in Carbon Black and Titanium White. The design’s intention is to draw the viewer in from a distance to explore the piano’s surface. Once within a closer viewing range, there are many places for the eye to travel and rest. The symbol of the human torso on the lower front panel of the piano and the starburst designs placed throughout express the expanse of sound and the ecstatic energy one experiences while performing and listening to music. The columns along the back of the piano contain images that symbolize the complexities of musical compositions, time, rhythm, and percussive beats.
Rachel Sousa's work is inspired by nature, the dynamic synergy of abstract art, Transcendentalism, Native Pacific Northwestern Indian carvings, Pop Art, and Portuguese Azulejos, Her use of line and shape evoke organic, architectural and typographic structures. Her creations echo the beauty and resilience of nature and remind the viewer of their own connection to the natural world. Sousa holds a BA in English Literature from Boston University, a MFA in Painting with a minor in Printmaking from Pratt Institute, and a MA in English Education from Brooklyn College. She has called New York City home since 1993.
