Interested in the boundaries of perception, Rachel Clancy disorientates the viewer through her distinctive use of paint. Responding to theatre and illusion across three interrelated areas within the practice of painting, Clancy considers the subject, the medium and the painting as an object in itself.

Although no figures are visible, Clancy paints abstracted scenes dense with atmosphere and subtle cues that point to narrative just out of reach, carefully choosing what to conceal and what to disclose. Her investigation of illusion extends beyond what is represented within the image to encompass the very materiality of paint. Treating paint as a narrative form in its own right, Clancy engages with it as both subject and tool, applying diverse techniques and gestures across a single canvas. Swirling marks, tufted textures, and uneven glazes interrupt one another, each contributing to a tension and unease within the overall work.

For Clancy, the canvas is not simply a surface but an object too. Painted details such as a nail or loose thread, pull you out of the immersive quality of the paint and prompt you to consider the painting as a constructed object. Framing devices and composition remind the viewer that the painting is defined by boundaries and decisions rather than just a window into another world.

Across each layer, Clancy investigates the craftsmanship of painting. Each element- the painted image, the physical surface, the act of looking- contributing to the sensation within the work. Reflections, interventions and shifting perspectives invites us to question what we are seeing and to remain aware of the constructed nature of paint itself.

Rachel Clancy (2000, Manchester, UK) completed her MFA at Manchester School of Art (2024) and currently has a studio at Paradise Works, Manchester, UK. Clancy had her first solo exhibition with Pipeline, London (2025) followed by a solo booth at Echo, Soho (2025). Selected group exhibitions include, Enari Gallery, Amsterdam (2026); Manchester Contemporary Art Fair, Paradise Works (2025); Pipeline, London (2024); Hurst Contemporary, London (2024); Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery (2024); Saan1, Manchester (2024); Contemporary Six Gallery, Manchester (2024). Rachel Clancy was selected as a mentored artist for Brave Projects 2026 program.

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