Artist Statement

Short Bio

Rachel Vogeleisen was born in France in the mid-1960s and is based in London. She is a photographer and visual artist whose practice explores womanhood through portraiture, conceptual photography, and visual storytelling. Her work examines themes of identity, resilience, visibility, ageing, reinvention, and quiet rebellion. Throughout her series, she is drawn to women at moments of transition: women reclaiming identity, resisting invisibility, and redefining themselves on their own terms.

Technique & Process

Rachel combines photography and digital editing to create evocative portraits influenced by the drama of classic portraiture paintings and the Renaissance.

Her earlier documentary portrait projects were focused on the experiences of women whose stories had often remained unseen or underrepresented. Over time, this documentary approach evolved into a more conceptual visual language, allowing symbolism, styling, and atmosphere to communicate emotional and psychological states.

In “Women in Quiet Rebellion,” she uses dramatic light and shadow to evoke introspection, tension, and restrained defiance, creating images that feel both timeless and contemporary.

In “The Joyful Journey,” she shifts towards black-and-white photography, incorporating grain, blur, and movement to convey liberation, emotional spontaneity, and personal transformation.

Her process remains deeply intentional. Each portrait is constructed through lighting, composition, styling, and narrative. By blending classical visual influences with contemporary photographic techniques, Rachel creates portraits that invite reflection on identity, memory, and what it means to be a woman.

Style

Rachel Vogeleisen’s artistic style bridges documentary sensitivity and conceptual portraiture. Her early projects focused on women who contributed to the Second World War effort and women over fifty who reinvented themselves. These projects established portraiture as a form of testimony and preservation within her practice.

This documentary foundation gradually evolved into more symbolic and conceptual work. In “Women in Quiet Rebellion,” Rachel draws on the visual language of classic portraiture in old master paintings to explore women's place in a society that allowed them to be seen but not heard, and to express themselves only through quiet rebellion. Rich textures, controlled compositions, and dramatic lighting create portraits suspended between vulnerability and power.

By contrast, “The Joyful Journey” embraces movement and imperfection through black-and-white urban imagery, celebrating freedom, reinvention, and emotional release. Grain and blur become visual metaphors for transition and liberation.

Across all her series, a recurring figure emerges: women navigating visibility and transformation. Whether documentary or conceptual, her portraits examine the emotional space between existence and silence.

Subject Matter & Vision

1. Why do you create art?

Growing up in the 1970s, I became very aware of the limitations and expectations imposed on women. For years, I carried a frustration that I struggled to express. and realised photography would become my voice. It is a transformative process that allows me to explore the complexities of womanhood, identity, and resilience.

2. What do you wish to achieve?

Through my art, I seek catharsis, connection, and change. My goal is to create images that resonate emotionally, spark conversation, and inspire women to embrace their true selves.

3. Does your art have a message?

My work carries a strong feminist message, reclaiming a voice and challenging the stereotypes that have long constrained women. Each series, whether “Women in Quiet Rebellion” or “The Joyful Journey”, explores themes of freedom, self-discovery, and the power of a quiet rebellion.

4. Recurring Themes

Throughout my practice, I am drawn to women in moments of transition: women reclaiming their identities, navigating change, resisting invisibility, or redefining themselves later in life.

5. Philosophical Exploration:

Whether documenting women who contributed to the Second World War effort, portraying women over fifty who reinvented themselves, or creating symbolic conceptual portraits, my work explores resilience, memory, freedom, and what it means to be a woman.

6. Narrative & Canon:

Over time, my visual language has evolved from documentary portraiture towards conceptual fine art photography, allowing emotion, symbolism, and historical references to become central elements of the narrative.

7. Art for Art’s Sake.

Though my work is conceptual and message-driven, I also value stylistic innovation. The interplay of light, shadow, and texture is central to my practice, as is my use of black-and-white photography to strip away distractions and focus on emotion and form.

Development & Periods

  1. Early Exploration (Documentary Roots)
    My early practice was rooted in documentary photography and portraiture, influenced by photographers such as Cartier-Bresson and by a desire to preserve overlooked human stories.

  2. Transition to Portraiture (Technical Mastery)

    During my MA in Fine Art Photography, I began photographing women who had contributed to the Second World War effort through the WRNS, WAAF, ATS, Land Army, and ATA. What began as a university project evolved into a multi-year portrait series documenting women whose wartime contributions had often remained absent from mainstream historical narratives. This project established portraiture as a form of remembrance and testimony within my work. My interest in women’s lived experiences continued through a later portrait series focused on women over fifty who had reinvented themselves. Through these portraits, I explored ageing, identity, visibility, and the courage required to begin again.

    These documentary-based projects revealed recurring themes that would later define my conceptual practice: resilience, transformation, silence, and female self-definition.

  3. Conceptual Portraiture (Feminist Themes)“Over time, I became increasingly interested in using symbolism, atmosphere, and historical references to explore emotional and psychological states beyond literal representation.

    This transition led to “Women in Quiet Rebellion,” a conceptual series inspired by Renaissance portraiture, feminist history, and the hidden forms of resistance women have embodied across generations. Rather than documenting external realities alone, the work seeks to visualise inner tension, suppression, strength, and transformation.

  4. Liberation & Empowerment (The Joyful Journey) Following “Women in Quiet Rebellion,” I launched “The Joyful Journey,” a celebration of renewal and spontaneity. This series expanded my practice into outdoor settings, using grain and blur to capture the fleeting moments of liberation.

  5. Artistic Maturity (Synthesis of Styles) Each series builds upon the last, forming an ongoing exploration of women’s voices, identities, and emotional landscapes. Whether through painterly portraiture, movement-based black-and-white imagery, or intimate fine art photography, my practice continues to examine how women navigate visibility, freedom, memory, and reinvention.

Key Series

  • Women who served during WWII (2011- 2014) A portrait photography project celebrating Women Who Contributed to the Second World War effort by serving in the Navy (WRNS), Air Force (WAAF), Army(ATS), Land Army and the Aviation Transport Authority(ATA).

  • Women who reinvented themselves after 50 (2016-2018). For far too long, women have been fed a narrative which is frankly now ridiculous when applied to the women I have met. I firmly believe that whatever you want in life, you can achieve it – age should be no barrier.

  • Women in Quiet Rebellion (2020–Present) explores women's place in society through classic portraiture inspired by Renaissance and formal portraiture. These portraits examine the tension between societal expectations and inner strength, giving voice to women who were expected to be seen but not heard.

  • The Joyful Journey (2018–Present). This series moves away from the stillness of posed portraiture and embraces movement, grain, and blur to celebrate freedom, reinvention, and emotional liberation. The work reflects the courage it takes for women to redefine themselves on their own terms.

  • Fine Art Nude Collection (2022–Present) A departure from conceptual work, this series redefines female nudity as a narrative of empowerment, vulnerability.

  • Summer on Film (2024–Present) A summer celebration of Mediterranean life, shot entirely on 35mm and medium-format film. This project embraces spontaneity and the tactile beauty of analogue photography, and the slow pace of summer.