Rachel Stavrowsky Hurst

Rachel Hurst is a painter based in Austin, Texas, whose work explores the emotional presence and spirit of animals within the natural world. Working primarily in water-based mediums, especially acrylics, she combines loose realism with abstract, atmospheric backgrounds, using layered glazes to create depth, movement, and energy rather than heavy texture. Her paintings are guided by a deep attraction to color, organic form, and the quiet power found in nature.

Hurst’s subject matter is rooted in direct experience. An avid hiker and lifelong observer of the natural world, she works primarily from photographs taken during her travels through mountain ranges and U.S. National Parks, supplementing her imagery with additional reference material as needed. Each composition is carefully developed before it reaches the canvas, allowing her to focus on conveying the soul, motion, and presence of the animals she depicts. Her goal is for viewers to feel an animal’s energy and understand its place within the larger natural landscape.

Raised in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Hurst grew up immersed in both nature and art as the daughter of western artist Oleg Stavrowsky. Although she initially pursued a degree in psychology, her lifelong connection to art ultimately led her to become a full-time professional artist. She is represented by Legends of the West Fine Art Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and is regularly accepted into juried exhibitions throughout the western United States.