How Rachel Pruzan Uses Unconventional Materials in her Abstract Textured Art

Rachel Pruzan is an artist who creates deeply emotional and expressive artwork, using fire, paint, and other materials to bring her feelings and intuition to life. In this interview, she opens up about her creative process, which is shaped by curiosity and a love for experimenting with different textures and elements. Rachel’s art is inspired by the Japanese idea of wabi-sabi, which celebrates beauty in imperfection and the passage of time. She shares how her first painting sparked a passion for art that she never expected and the challenges she’s faced along the way. Rachel also talks about the joy of connecting with people through her work and offers advice for aspiring artists: keep creating, share your work, and believe in yourself.

My paintings and wall sculptures are my emotions and soul laid bare. Rooted in deep curiosity and intuition, my art explores the interplay of mediums, materials, and elements like fire and water. The result is evocative, layered, textured, and organic. I’m equally curious about my inner world, and try to understand aspects of myself through my work. Only when my work is complete can I be certain of what it’s trying to communicate. Much of my process is unpredictable, and I surrender to it completely. Whether layering paint, blending inks, or using fire to sculpt and scorch, it excites me to never know precisely where I’ll end up. I view paint and materials as co-creators, letting them guide me, and working more intentionally as the composition is revealed. I’m primal and gestural, often eschewing brushes for my bare hands. And I love how wood panels and yupo respond when I expose them to a chaotic mix of paint, inks, and flames. Metallics are a near constant in my work, either glowing subtly from beneath the surface, or boldly highlighting form. I especially love using fire and paint on these powerful colors, evoking decay from natural elements. The creative process feels intimate and sacred to me. And the shared experience of seeing people connect with my work is one of my greatest joys. I’m a self-taught artist who works out of my studio in Manufacturers Village, a 140 year old former factory housing a community of 65 artists. I had my first solo exhibition at Valley Arts—a non-profit organization— in 2021, and I regularly participate in group shows throughout New York and New Jersey. I live in the New Jersey ‘burbs with my family and small dog, Gunnar.

1. How would you describe your art style and what inspired you to become an artist?

My art style is very much based wabi-sabi—a Japanese aesthetic and worldview that finds beauty in imperfection, impermanence, and simplicity. My work has, naturally, evolved over time, but the beauty of natural distress and decay is ever-present in my work. My Stone Roses series, resembling abstract metal flora marked with patina, are a great example of this. Every single one of my pieces expresses and evokes emotion. I’d also describe much of my work as ethereal, moody, or otherworldly.

The creative process is intimate and sacred to me. But seeing my work resonate with others is one of my greatest joys.

Rachel Pruzan

2. Can you tell us about a particular piece of art that holds special meaning for you?

I started painting later in life. Despite the fact that I’m the daughter of an artist, I’d believed that I wasn’t good at making art. While growing up, I did poorly in art classes, always feeling bored with having to churn out assigned projects. But then I had a dream about oil pigment sticks. So I bought some. And one night, after my family was asleep, I began painting with them. I stayed up painting the entire night. The result was a completely intuitive, textured, gestural abstract piece filled with movement and feeling. That night—that piece—awakened something in me. And I’ve been painting ever since.

3. How do you approach collaboration with other artists or creatives?

My work doesn’t easily fit into current trends and styles of work. It’s not figurative. It’s not geometric. It doesn’t use many of the mark making techniques or palettes I see in contemporary abstract work. So I tend to seek out other visual artists whose work seem to defy classification or step outside of current trends in contemporary art. I have a few exhibition ideas in mind, and I’m thinking about ways to give myself and other like-minded artists opportunities to show our work. I love when artists lift each other up. I’m part of a fantastic community of artists called Manufacturers Village, and we all come together twice a year for Open Studios. Collaboration is woven into the DNA of our community, and because of that, we thrive! I’m especially grateful for all the veteran artists I know who have shared their wisdom along the way. I hope to do the same for others.

4. What has been the most rewarding aspect of your art journey?

Without a doubt, the most rewarding aspect of my art journey has been connecting with viewers and collectors. My creative process feels deeply personal and intimate. But when someone looks and reacts to your work—or chooses to own it—it becomes something different. The art becomes a shared experience containing a part of me, and a part of the people responding to it. No one has ever purchased one of my pieces simply because it matched their couch (though that’s a perfectly valid reason to collect art!). Every person who’s collected my work has responded to it emotionally, and resonated with it. *That* is an incredible gift.

Much of my process is unpredictable, and I surrender to it completely. Whether layering paint, blending inks, or using fire to sculpt and scorch, it excites me to never know precisely where I’ll end up.

Rachel Pruzan

5. What advice would you give to the aspiring artists?

Show your work. Post it on social media: Talk to other artists. Talk about your work. Fail. Take breaks. Start again. And call yourself an artist—no disclaimers.

Rachel Pruzan’s art is a testament to the power of intuition, the beauty of imperfection, and the unpredictability of creativity. By surrendering to the materials she works with—fire, paint, and metal—she creates pieces that speak to the emotions and experiences that are both deeply personal and universally relatable. To learn more about Rachel, visit the links below.