Join us for the opening reception celebrating Repetition Compulsion, an exhibition of work by Rachel Sherman ‘99 in Moore's Alumni Gallery on Saturday, November 22 from 5 - 7 p.m.
Once described as “cyber meets bohemian,” Rachel Sherman '99's work embodies a fusion of vibrant energy and craft tradition. Her label, Malagueta, bridges traditional craft and experimental technique, drawing from a lifelong fascination with global folk textiles. Working with a sewing machine since the age of thirteen but never formally trained, she learned by breaking the rules—and sometimes nearly breaking the machine—in pursuit of new forms of expression.
Sherman’s lively interpretations of color, pattern, texture, and shape pay homage to nature, world cultures and the female body. Her vibrant, modern and easy-to-wear garments first appeared in independent boutiques in Seattle, later finding homes in Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Tucson, Miami, Nashville, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston—where “funky and feminine” resonated with a diverse clientele.
In Repetition Compulsion, Sherman presents both garments and circular canvases that showcase her range of surface manipulation techniques. The title references a psychological phenomenon in which an individual unconsciously repeats past experiences in an attempt to gain mastery over them. For Sherman, however, repetition is an act of pleasure and exploration. Each stitch becomes a meditation, each pattern a celebration of the tactile beauty of fabric in all its forms. On view in the Alumni Gallery November 22 – January 17, 2025.
Photo Credit: Johanna Austin
