Turning Adversity into Beauty - Academy Student's Groundbreaking Work Receives Accolades

Academy of Art University student Rachel Arends wants to do it all: painting, sculpting, metalwork, fashion, photography and whatever else she can get her hands on. The Academy of Art University's diverse classes and flexibility allowed Rachel to tailor her educational experience to fit her needs. With the Academy's help, Rachel's "do everything" philosophy has opened up a myriad of possibilities and as a result, she has produced some beautiful, unique award-winning work. She started her art career as a painter and photographer, but wanted to try something new. In 2003 she came to the Academy to study a field in which she had virtually no experience: fashion. Though she enjoyed her classes, fashion didn't seem right; it didn't feel complete. When she took her first metal arts class, however, everything changed. 

"I fell in love with metal and how complex it is to work with. I love its stubborn nature," she said.

She began thinking about ways she could combine fashion design and metal arts in her studies and came up with her own individual major: Fashion Accessory Design. She proposed the idea the School of Fashion directors and they supported her decision.

When Rachel first came to the Academy, she made it a personal goal to participate in the Fashion Show. This past spring, she fulfilled that goal and showed two jaw-dropping pieces on the runway. She worked with Fashion colleagues, who designed dresses around her metal body sculptures. The experience of being backstage was unforgettable, but the exposure was priceless.

"It was very rewarding. Zac Posen and a lot of reporters saw my work. Recently, I was contacted by a gallery in London who had seen the show," she said.