Meet Rachael Nerney | Artist & Muralist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rachael Nerney and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rachael, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
My first thoughts of risk-taking were associated with college when I enrolled in SCAD. I had serious doubts from guidance counselors and peers about pursuing art school as opposed to a liberal arts school. Going to a university seemed to them the only way to guarantee a job after graduation. I was told over and over again that there was no money to be made in the arts. I am grateful for the 18 year version of me who dove into the unknown and persisted.

After college I worked as an in-house store artist for Whole Foods for 4 years. It was a dream job out of school, I had a lot of independence in my workflow, 40 hours a week and benefits. It was a blessing that right when I was getting ready for my next chapter, Amazon was in the process of purchasing the company. My position as well as countless others were eliminated entirely. At that point I was in Asheville, NC, ready to change jobs and was interested in the eclectic gallery scene happening there. With that in the back of my mind, Charleston fell into my cards. I made an impulsive move to Charleston, SC without any work lined up, hoping to find my way into their art scene. This still feels like one of my biggest risks to date. It was not an easy transition. At that point over the course of a year I had moved 4 times and I felt like I was never going to be able to support myself.

Fortunately shortly after moving, I found employment at a contemporary art gallery, The Miller Gallery. Sarah Miller Gelber hired me and my path has drastically shifted since. Until this point my artwork leaned towards illustration and graphic design. I never imagined that I would have numerous art exhibits and murals under my belt five years later. While I worked as a gallery associate most days, I slowly pursued different creative opportunities in Charleston on the side. From live painting to open air markets, I learned so much from everything I tried. I gained confidence painting in front of strangers. I learned how to manage ordering my own inventory after many experiences of over-ordering and sunk costs. Most importantly, I began to develop my own unique painting style.

While my professional journey has consisted of significant risks, I am learning that the small risks in daily life hold equal weight. Whether I am using a new medium or learning a new skill, these all require me to sit with fear and discomfort. I have felt this the most through the process of my mural installations. Every project has something unexpected come up that needs to be worked through. It could be as simple as a gnarly wall texture, an awkward curb, or the weather taking a turn for the worst. Risk, to me, is one of the most essential parts of being creative. It is what makes all the hard work worth it when everything clicks.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am an artist who loves to capture the small details of life through color, light, and texture. I specialize in custom paintings for individuals, designing artwork for products, and installing murals. I am known for my food-inspired original paintings. What sets me apart is I am deeply passionate about the process of my creative work. My paintings have an element of whimsy to them. When you view them from afar, it is usually easy to tell what you are looking at. When you get up close, you can see layer upon layer of unexpected bold colors.

My artistic training is unique because I had formal training throughout my life. From an abundance of art classes through public education as well as private classes, I was fortunate to have a lot of exposure to art. Enrolling in SCAD was a dream and a privilege. At SCAD, I studied Illustration because I loved the focus on problem solving. My art processes I use currently are a combination of my foundational education along with self taught practices. The paints, surfaces and mediums I choose have all been selected through trial and error. Over the past few years, I have gained discipline and accountability by saying yes to any opportunity that has interested me – that is how I started doing mural work. It was something that I was curious about exploring and the moment I verbalized that, my first job at Julia Deckman Studio came into fruition.

The artwork I am most proud of is my mural at the RL Jones Center in Mt. Pleasant, SC. The 115ft mural was created in June of 2021 and is my largest mural to date. This project was my greatest success for multiple reasons. It pushed me outside of my comfort zone. I created something on a scale I had never attempted and it was my first commission through a town. I was also proud to have completed the project in 2 weeks in the heat of a Charleston summer.

My fine art is represented by The Miller Gallery, Art & Light Gallery and The Gallery at Sweetgrass at Wild Dunes Resort. You can view my mural work around Charleston at Park & Grove, Julia Deckman Studio, RL Jones Center, and Rancho Lewis. What I am most excited about currently are the mural installations I have scheduled this summer! To learn more follow my instagram @rachaelnerney.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Charleston is such a fun place to host visitors, especially your best friend. I like to plan out what we’re going to do by the area of town we’ll be in and what we’re eating. After scooping my friend from the airport around lunchtime, I would bee-line it to The Codfather. It’s hard to beat their classic fish and chips and casual atmosphere. After a pint, we’d head toward The Station, a really cool vintage store with lots of local artisan goods and furniture. Since we’re in North Charleston at this point, I’d head to Park Circle next for a glass of wine at Stems and Skins before a leisurely dinner at Three Sirens. They are a newer spot and possibly one of North Charleston’s best kept secrets. The next day, weather permitting I’d say a beach day is in order. We’d go to Baguette Magic for pastries and sandwiches then head over to Folly Beach to soak up the sun. Then we’d head over to Low Life for happy hour, easily one of my favorite spots out there. Their fried chicken sandwich is the best. For dinner though, we would have to eat at Jack of Cups. I am a sucker for their creative appetizers and salads but their staple menu item is the curry. Since our dinner ended early, I’d head over to Stono Bottle Shop at Julia Deckman Studio on James Island. There I would grab a bottle of wine (or two) to bring home for us to enjoy. For the next day, I’d venture downtown after a slow morning at home to do a gallery stroll in the French Quarter. The highlights of our tour would include The Miller Gallery, Meyer Vogl Gallery, Robert Lange, and The George Gallery. Famished from the venture, we’d drive over to Babas x GSC on Meeting for lunch and a glass of wine. We’d sit out on the patio and relax for the afternoon before heading back towards home. The last dinner would have to be at Bar George on James Island. Their cocktail program is excellent, their food is exceptional and the music is always on point.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I will never be able to thank my parents enough for their love and encouragement. They supported my choice to go to art school. They supported me moving to new cities, well knowing I was embarking without much of a plan in mind. Every painting I do, every collaboration I have the privilege to participate in, they are my number one cheerleaders and I am forever humbled and grateful.

The other person I would like to dedicate my shoutout to is my partner and boyfriend, Brian. He has believed in me and my creative pursuits since the day I moved to Charleston. He is the invisible support and helping hand that keeps me going. I am so grateful that he has my back and appreciate his encouragement for me to continue to grow, expand, and push my limits.

Website: rachaelnerney.com

Instagram: rachaelnerney

Image Credits
Kate Blohm