Personal Narratives in Pastel on Sandpaper

Barbara Rachko, barbararachko.art, is an American contemporary artist, based in New York City, who is best known for her remarkable pastel-on-sandpaper paintings. She is represented by galleries in London, Sweden, India, and the United States.

Her pastel paintings are bold, striking, and powerful. For more than 40 years she has been “Revolutionizing Pastel as Fine Art!”

In 2026 Barbara received a Special Recognition Art Award from Manhattan Arts International which includes an interview that can be read here.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. DO NOT REPRODUCE IMAGES WITHOUT THE ARTIST’S PERMISSION.

Magisterial, soft pastel on sandpaper, 58″ x 38″ Image, 70″ x 50″ framed

Barbara uses her large collection of Mexican and Guatemalan folk art – masks, carved wooden animals, papier-mâché figures, and toys – to create one-of-a-kind pastel-on-sandpaper paintings that combine reality and fantasy and depict personal narratives.

With each pastel painting Barbara infuses dynamic cultural symbolism and leads viewers to new and profound realms of mystery, discovery and enchantment.

In 2017 she began work on a series called “Bolivianos”, using as source material her stunning photographs of a mask exhibition at the Museum of Ethnography and Folklore in La Paz. Her art not only reflects cultural norms of the past, it also speaks a universal, timeless language of emotions and ideas that will continue to resonate across decades.

Showman, soft pastel on sandpaper, 20″ x 26″ image, 28.5″ x 35″ framed

“Barbara Rachko: True Grit”, a recent short documentary, tells the inspiring story of a Master Pastel Artist who overcame gender barriers and a deep tragic loss to forge a path that is uniquely her own. It was filmed in Arizona, New Mexico, Virginia, New Jersey, and New York City.

The World Premier was on Oct. 14, 2023 at the 2023 Newport Beach Film Festival, where the film won both the Audience Award and Best in Category for Art, Architecture, and Design. The 14 minute documentary is available on YouTube.

Oblate, soft pastel on sandpaper, 20″ x 26″ image, 28.5″ x 35″ framed. This painting was selected for the Manhattan Arts International “HerStory” 2026 Exhibition.

Apricus Art Collection, while promoting her documentary, said, “Barbara Rachko’s art is a mesmerizing fusion of pastel and photography, creating striking and thought-provoking images that resonate with viewers on a profound level. Her work has been celebrated for its ability to evoke emotion, stimulate the imagination, and inspire creativity. Through her art, Barbara has touched the hearts and minds of countless individuals.”

Harbinger, soft pastel on sandpaper, 20″ x 26″ image, 28.5″ x 35″ framed

Cultured Focus Magazine recently said, “Barbara Rachko is making industry waves. She is a modern-day Renaissance woman, seamlessly blending her talents as a visual artist, author, and expert in Mexican and Guatemalan folk art. Her work serves as a captivating intersection where creativity and culture collide, creating a vibrant tapestry of artistic expression.”

Apparition, soft pastel on sandpaper, 58″ x 38″ image, 70″ x 50″ framed

In February 2026 Barbara achieved a significant milestone in her four-decades-long creative inquiry into Latin American cultures. She made a return trip to Bolivia with a small film-crew to experience Carnival for the first time, to learn about its profound meaning, and to create another documentary film. In Oruro, she met and attended Carnival as a guest of Rodrigo Paz, the President of Bolivia. She also interviewed Dario Andrés Zaratti Chevarría, the Vice Minister of Culture, and Hernán Iván Arias Durán, the Mayor of La Paz, for the film.

Barbara’s hope is that her subsequent body of pastel paintings will be saturated with color, with spirit, and with the enduring vitality of Carnival in Oruro.

Maestro, soft pastel on sandpaper, 26″ x 20″ image, 35″ x 28.5″ framed

One of Barbara’s works of art was selected for “The Healing Power of Color” 2024 Invitational Exhibition presented by The Healing Power of ART & ARTISTS, an initiative of Manhattan Arts International.

Articles on this website that include Barbara and her artwork are: Art With Faces and Figures by Artist Members and Master Artists, Art Transforms Rooms, and Artist Members Share Praise They Received for Their Art.