Rachel Stenz

As a History Major and Multimedia Design Minor, I have learned to use photography as a means to explore the identity and culture of those in the past and present. In general, my work seeks to explore themes of the individual and the community, feminine identity, and the relationship of the past to present. I have been inspired by photographers across time, and around the world, such as Madame Yevonde and Vasantha Yoganantham. These artists have shaped my own pursuit of storytelling through photography and portraiture. Due to their inspiration and my own internal curiosity, I developed the “Myth of Women” series. These portraits of women were inspired by the various roles that women have fulfilled in myths and stories from different cultures. Each woman not only poses as a legendary female, but also acts as a representation of how women are honored and remembered throughout history. They pose as mothers, nurturers, mourners, warriors, and lovers. These portraits aim to empower the women of the present by reminding them of the revered and worshiped females of the past.