Many know Rachel Cope as one of the creative forces behind Calico Wallpaper, the Brooklyn- and Ghent, New York–based studio whose painterly wall coverings practically elevate the medium to fine art. Perhaps fewer are familiar with her equally compelling artistic practice, in which she wields intricate techniques to render dreamlike visuals that dissolve the boundaries between reality and illusion. Her first solo exhibition at Massey Klein Gallery, called “Realms Beyond the Visible,” draws from her background studying art therapy and the esoteric philosophies of Rudolf Steiner to explore these shifting boundaries. Working in acrylic and pencil on clay-coated panels, she layers translucent washes of pigment over finely drawn lines to create spectral landscapes that emit their own inner light. She manages to make everyday motifs like dwellings and birds feel both familiar and otherworldly thanks to iridescent surfaces that shift with changing perspectives, imbuing each with a sense of presence and impermanence. “Realms Beyond the Visible” will be on view at Massey Klein Gallery (124 Forsyth St, New York) from April 26–June 7. —Ryan Waddoups
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Rachel Cope Debuts Dreamlike Paintings at Massey Klein Gallery
Galerie Editors, Galerie, 22 April 2025
