CV - Rachel Fawn Alban

Arts educator, photographer, and art writer 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, Access Programs The Jewish Museum, New York, NY

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

2018-present Professional Development Facilitator Arts Ed Newark, Newark, NJ

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 Mental Health 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 and Collaborators

Audible Inc., DreamPlay Media, Four Corners Public Arts Program, Gallery Aferro, Morris Museum, New York Red Bulls,Newark Arts, Newark Artist Collaboration, NJPAC Center for Arts Ed, Paul Robeson Galleries, Project for Empty Space, State of the Arts NJ

Public Mural Commissions

2024 The Golden Life Mural Project Co-created by Armisey Smith and Rachel Fawn Alban. Organized by Project for Empty Space and the City of Newark. Supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Initiative.

2023 Healing in Community. Coler Rehabilitation and Nursing Care Hospital, Roosevelt Island, NY. Organized by NYC Health + Hospitals Arts in Medicine Program and Residency Unlimited. Supported by Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund.

Group Exhibitions

2024 Community Connections Juried Art Exhibit Heidi Gallery at JSDD, Livingston, NJ

2023 Cross Cultural Perspectives. The Newark Museum of Art, NJ. Invited artist. Curated by Adrienne Wheeler, part of Newark Arts Festival

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. The Newark Museum of Art, NJ. Curated by Adrienne Wheeler and Elena Muñoz-Rodriguez, part of Newark Arts Festival

2022 Home: The Spaces We Inhabit. 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. Jefferson Market Library, New York, NY. Curated by James & Karla Murray

2017 Urban Art Collection: Photography Documenting NYC Hip Hop Culture. Queens Hip Hop Festival and LIC Arts Open. Queens, NY

2014 Fridge Art Fair. Queens, NY

2014 Photo-Graffs: Images of HipHop, Graffiti & Urban Culture. Gold Coast Art Center, Great Neck, NY

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

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

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

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

Grants

2023 Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Grant

2023 Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund

2023 City of Newark Creative Catalyst Fund in partnership with Newark Arts

Curatorial Projects

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

Collections

City of Newark, NJ Come As You Are: Bridge Housing Community.

Select Workshops, Presentations, Panels

2024

Creating Community Connections with Photography, presented at NYC Arts in Education Roundtable’s Face to Face Conference

2023

Four photography workshops, Coler Hospital on Roosevelt Island, NYC

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

Photography at Open Doors Kids, Greater Newark Conservancy, part of Newark Arts Festival

Art Practice as Self Care Arts Ed Newark workshop at Lincoln Public School

A Walkthrough of Justseeds: Print Collections Paul Robeson Galleries, School of Criminal Justice, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ

Arts Ed Newark Professional Learning Community, 5 sessions (online)

Self Care and Visual Arts Practices for Resiliency Arts Ed Newark workshops (online)

Juror Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. NYC

2022

Artmaking at Open Doors Kids, Greater Newark Conservancy, part of Newark Arts Festival

Arts Ed Newark Professional Learning Community, 5 sessions (online)

Self Care and Visual Arts Practices for Resiliency Arts Ed Newark workshops (online)

2021

Conversation with National NYL Award Winners, Scholastic Alliance for Young Artists and Writers, Moderator, teen panel discussion. (online)

Stories of Loss and Grief Told through Art and Writing, Scholastic Alliance for Young Artists and Writers, presentation. (online)

Workshop Presenter, reCONNECT Arts Education Conference, Arts Professional Learning Institute (APLI) and New Jersey Arts Education Collective. (online)

Outside/Outsider - Artists confronting Mental Illness Panel Discussion, Fountain House Gallery, NYC

Self Care and Visual Arts Practices for Resiliency Arts Ed Newark workshops (online)

Juror Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. NYC

2020

Grief and Growth, Virtual workshop series for teens and educators. Scholastic’s Alliance for Young Artist & Writers, sponsored by New York Life Foundation.

Self Care and Visual Arts Practices for Resiliency Arts Ed Newark workshops for professionals serving youth in Newark, throughout NJ, FL, and CA (online)

Self Care and Secondary Trauma, Arts Ed Newark, in-person workshops in early 2020 for professionals serving youth in Newark, NJ.

2019

Grief and Growth A full day program for teens at Newark Museum of Art, presented in partnership with Scholastic’s Alliance for Young Artist & Writers, sponsored by New York Life Foundation.

Teaching Artist Residency, Marble Jam Kids, Hackensack, NJ. Artmaking classes for children with autism spectrum disorders and developmental disabilities.

Teaching Artist Residency, Fresh Art NYC. Weekly open studio space for seniors and adults with mental illness, physical disabilities, in recovery from chemical dependencies and homelessness.

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. NYC.

Press about my work

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

20 News Stories You Missed This Week in Montclair + Beyond, The Montclair Girl, 3/9/2024

These Stunning Murals Are Shouting Out the Influential Women of Newark New Jersey 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

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

The Stories Behind the Most Meaningful Projects,Canvas Rebel Magazine, 12/20/2023

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

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