Education
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC)
Master of Fine Arts, Ceramics — Chicago, IL
2022–2024
University of Michigan
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Studio Art (Ceramics)
Academic Focus: Ecology — Ann Arbor, MI
2018–2022
Awards and Publications
“Peculiar Presence: A Review of Rachel Heibel at Ackerman Clarke,” Newcity Art, July 24, 2024
Visionary Scholars Award, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 2022–2024
Graduate Professional Development Award, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 2023
Nominated for Creatively’s Class of 2022, University of Michigan, 2022
Integrated Project Award, University of Michigan, 2022
“Detroit Month of Design Will Showcase the Creative Spirit of the City,” Design Milk, September 26, 2021
Anna Bychinsky Scholarship for Excellence in Visual Arts, University of Michigan, 2021
Undergraduate Student Research Grant, University of Michigan, 2021
The Jacker Prize, Kelsey Museum of Archaeology, 2021
Solo Shows
Visitors | Ackerman Clarke | Chicago, IL | 2024
Selected Group Exhibition
Project Network Group Exhibition — Guldagergaard International Ceramic Research Center, Skælskør, Denmark, 2025
And Other Complications — The Jones Institute, San Francisco, CA, 2024
MFA Degree Exhibition — School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 2024
Lake Effect — Embrace Creatives, Detroit, MI, 2024
Center of Multiple Middles — Compound Yellow, Chicago, IL, 2023
ArtPrize — Gerald R. Ford Museum, Grand Rapids, MI, 2023
NCECA Student Juried Exhibition — Cincinnati, OH, 2023
Meet Me Halfway — Mana Contemporary, Chicago, IL, 2023
Close but Not Touching — Penny W. Stamps BFA Exhibition, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 2022
In the Event — Detroit Month of Design, Detroit, MI, 2022
Here X Now — Form & Seek, Detroit Month of Design, Detroit, MI, 2021
1000 Vases — Milan Design Week, Milan, Italy, 2021
Art Fairs
FOG Design+Art Fair — Small Works Projects, San Francisco, CA, 2026
NADA Miami — Ackerman Clarke, Miami, FL, 2025
Barley Fair — Ackerman Clarke, Chicago, IL, April 23–May 11, 2025
NADA Miami — Ackerman Clarke, Miami, FL, 2024
Residencies
Work Experience
Studio Co-Manager | The Clay Room | San Francisco, CA 07/24-current
Teaching Resident | Sonoma Community Center | Sonoma, CA 05/23-08/23
Graduate TA | The Art Institute of Chicago | Chicago, IL 09/22- 05/22
Ceramics Instructor | The Pottery Studio Chicago, IL 08/22-12/22
Long Term Substitute Teacher | Pioneer High School | Ann Arbor, MI 04/22-06/22
Studio Assistant | The University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI 09/18- 05/22
Commissions & Programs
Project Network Residency — Guldagergaard International Ceramic Research Center, Skælskør, Denmark, 2025
Commissions
Commissioned Planter Series (3 large-scale works) — Private Property, through Ackerman Clarke, 2025
Wedding Vase Commission (30 unique vessels) — Private Client, August 2025
The Biota Vases — 30-Vase Commission for Nora, Detroit, MI, 2021