CV - Rachel Fawn Alban

Photographer and museum educator based in Newark, NJ.

Education

2007 MPS Art Therapy. School of Visual Arts, New York, NY

1999 BFA Art Education, dual major Graphic Design. School of Visual Arts, New York, NY

Teaching and Professional Experience

2024-present Coordinator of Access Programs, Museum Educator The Jewish Museum, New York

2023-present Museum Educator Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, NY

2017-present Artist Educator Paul Robeson Galleries, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ

2015-2017 Full Time Education Specialist Roads to Success, New York, NY

2014-2021 Teaching Artist Abrons Art Center, Henry Street Settlement, New York, NY

2013-2015 Art Therapist/ Counselor OHEL Children's Home & Family Services, Brooklyn, NY

2008-2012 Art Therapist/ Counselor Counseling in Schools, New York, NY

2007-2010 Part Time Art Therapist NYU Langone, Rusk Institute, New York, NY

Select Photography Clients

Audible, City of Newark - Division of Arts and Culture, Dream Play Media, Four Corners Public Arts, Morris Museum, New York Red Bulls, Newark Arts, Newark Artist Collaboration, Newark Press Office, NJPAC Center for Arts Ed, Paul Robeson Galleries, Project for Empty Space, Rutgers University Newark ACM, SRI Fine Art Services, Visual Arts Center NJ, YWCA NYC

Group Exhibitions

2025 To Not Be Afraid Lo Lefached Klal. Presented by Kol Nashim, the Women's Colorado Hebrew Chorale, and Art Against Antisemitism. Hebrew Educational Alliance, Denver, Colorado

2024-2025 WAR/ peace. Curated by Robinson Holloway. Gallery 14C, Jersey City, NJ.

2024 Dwelling in Hope Curated by Joel Morgovsky. Studio Montclair’s Leach Gallery, NJ.

2024 The Art of Solitude Curated by Lois Stavsky and Bonnie Astor, The Local, Queens, NY.

2024 Community Connections. Heidi Gallery at JSDD, Livingston, NJ

2023 Cross Cultural Perspectives. Curated by Adrienne Wheeler. Newark Museum of Art, NJ

2023 Newark Arts Festival. Invited artist. Newark, NJ.

2023 Nork! Photo Fest. Newark City Parks, Newark, NJ

2023 You Inspire Me. Obscura Darkroom at Project for Empty Space, Newark, NJ

2022 Artful Healing. Curated by Adrienne Wheeler. Newark Museum of Art, NJ.

2022 Home: The Spaces We Inhabit. Presented by ArtBreakout at The Local, Queens, NY.

2021 Alone/Together: A Visual Meditation on Our Times. The Local, Queens, NY

2018 Metro Texture 111, Street Photography Show. Con Artist Collective, New York, NY

2018 Faces & Voices of Manhattan's Neighborhood Storefronts. NYPL Jefferson Market Library

2017 Photography Documenting NYC Hip Hop Culture. Queens Hip Hop Festival, LIC Arts Open

2014 Fridge Art Fair. Curated by Street Art NYC. Queens, NY

2014 Photo-Graffs: Images of Urban Culture. Curated by Jude Amsel. Gold Coast Art Center, Great Neck, NY

2014 5Pointz NYC Google Arts & Culture virtual exhibition curated by StreetArtNYC

2013 East River Ferry Gallery at Photoville. Brooklyn Bridge Park, NYC

2012 My Empire State Building. Empire State Building 5th Avenue Gallery, New York, NY

2006 Doors, Mirrors, Windows. SVA Visual Arts Gallery, New York, NY. 3 person show

Public Art Commissions

2024 The Golden Life Mural Project, Newark, NJ. Co-created with Armisey Smith. Organized by Project for Empty Space and City of Newark. Supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Grant.

2023 Healing in Community, NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler, Roosevelt Island, NY. Arts in Medicine Community Mural Project, supported by the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund.

Fellowships

2024 Creative Catalyst Fund Artist Fellowship, City of Newark and Invest Newark

2022 Creative Catalyst Fund Artist Fellowship, City of Newark and Newark Arts

Public Collections

City of Newark, NJ, NYC Health + Hospitals

Curatorial Projects

2021 On and Off the Streets: Urban Art New Jersey. Morris Museum, Morristown, NJ. Guest curated with Lois Stavsky

Select Public Programs and Presentations

2025 Jewish Museum Assembly Presentations, Elementary and Middle Schools, Montclair, NJ (Upcoming; presenting on behalf of The Jewish Museum, NYC)

2024–present Drop-In Drawing, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Public Programs, select Friday nights in the Collection Galleries

2025 Resources and Resilience, Creative Arts Workshop Facilitator, Arts Ed Newark

2024 Creating Community Connections with Photography, Face to Face Conference, NYC Arts Education Roundtable, City College of New York, NY

2023 Golden Life Community Workshop, Co-hosted with Armisey Smith, Newark Public Library, NJ

2023 A Walkthrough of Justseeds Print Collections, Paul Robeson Criminal Justice Gallery, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ

2022 Coordinated Paul Robeson Galleries art activations at community events including Newark Arts Festival, HalseyFest, and Honoring the Spirit of Rebellion: A Celebration at Nat Turner Park.

2021 Scholastic Awards National Ceremony, Facilitated two virtual discussions featuring 2021 New York Life Award winners

2021 reCONNECT Virtual Arts Education Conference, Workshop Facilitator, APLI and NJ Arts Education Collective

2021 Outside/Outsider: Artists Confronting Mental Illness, Panelist, Fountain House Gallery, NYC

2020 Grief and Growth, Virtual Workshop Series for Teens and Educators, Scholastic’s Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, sponsored by New York Life Foundation

2020 Self Care and the Arts, In-person workshops, Arts Ed Newark

2019 Grief and Growth, Teen Program, Newark Museum of Art (in partnership with Scholastic’s Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, sponsored by New York Life Foundation)

2019 Untapped NY Tour: The Living Museum, Co-hosted with Lois Stavsky, Queens, NY

2018 Untapped NY Tour: MoSA Museum of Street Art, Co-hosted with Marie Flageul, Curator

Select Teaching Artist Residencies and Workshop Series

2025 MoMA Access School Partnership, 8-part program for 1st and 2nd grade special education students, New York, NY

2025 MoMA School Partnership, 3-part program with three middle school classes, New York, NY

2025 The Jewish Museum School Partnership, 12-part program for kindergarten and 6-part program for 3rd and 4th graders, Brooklyn, NY

2020-2024 Healing-Centered Engagement and the Arts, Virtual Workshop Series, Arts Ed Newark

2024 MoMA Access School Partnership, 4-part program for 6th grade special education classes, Queens, NY

2023-2024 MoMA School Partnership, 3-part series with twelve high school classes, Queens, NY

2023 Community Photography Workshops, NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler, Roosevelt Island, NY

2019 Teaching Artist Residency, Marble Jam Kids, Hackensack, NJ

2019 Teaching Artist Residency, Fresh Art NYC

2017-2019 Artist Educator, Pathways to Achievement and Success and College Pathways Initiative, Pre-College Programs for High School Students, Paul Robeson Galleries, Express Newark, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ

2014-2017 Teaching Artist, Intro to Digital Photography elective classes in a middle school. Abrons Art Center, New York, NY

Press and publications about my work

Rising Stars: meet Rachel Fawn Alban, Canvas Rebel Magazine, 3/25/2025

Notes & Exhibitions Visual Arts Journal, Fall/Winter 2024–25

Women's History Month: Mural created to showcase strength, spiritual greatness of Newark women, News 12 New Jersey, 3/18/2024

These Stunning Murals Are Shouting Out the Influential Women of Newark NJ Family, 3/6/2024

Newark's Women & Their Essential Role on Full Display in the Multi-Facade Mural "The Golden Life" by Armisey Smith and Rachel Fawn Alban, GothamToGo, 2/15/2024

Enhancing an underpass by celebrating local women and girls, Bloomberg Philanthropies, 2024

Come As You Are: Bridge Housing Community, Project for Empty Space, 2024

Meet Rachel Fawn Alban, Canvas Rebel Magazine, 12/20/2023

Rachel Alban on Collaborating with the Roosevelt Island Coler Community on Her Uplifting Photo Mural, ART BreakOUT, 12/13/2023

New York City Health & Hospital’s Community Mural Project Graces Coler, Roosevelt Island Daily News, 12/5/2023