The daughter of a Latvian immigrant and a philosopher, Rachel Dory Carpenter was born in Philadelphia on March 5, 1974.
Rachel was raised in rural New Jersey and urban Pennsylvania, later moving to the Pacific Northwest as a teenager. Watching these landscapes rush by from the back seat of her parents’ car left an indelible mark.

Rachel studied fine art at the University of Washington, mentored by internationally renowned sculptors Doug Jeck, Akio Takamori, Patti Warashina and Jamie Walker. After receiving her BFA cum laude in 1997, Rachel received some interesting and formative life experiences working a variety of jobs, including fishing in Alaska and California for several years aboard a 48’ purse seiner.

Rachel Dory currently resides in Seattle, WA with her daughters Arwen (age 4) and Welahn (age 2).
Her site-specific “Here on Earth” paintings can be viewed in a variety of venues in Seattle and nationwide.

Rachel Dory with daughter Arwen (4) during installation of "U-Turn (to the Gorge and Back)"