The Artistic Journey of Barbara Rachko
Barbara Rachko is an American contemporary artist and author known for her pastel-on-sandpaper paintings. She divides her time between New York City and Alexandria, VA. Barbara's life has been extraordinary and inspiring; she learned to fly at 25, became a commercial pilot and Boeing-727 flight engineer, and later joined the Navy. As a Naval officer, she worked at the Pentagon and retired as a Commander. Her life took a tragic turn on 9/11 when her husband, Dr. Bryan C. Jack, was killed on the plane that hit the Pentagon. Barbara's art draws from her large collection of Mexican and Guatemalan folk art, using masks, carved wooden animals, and papier-mâché figures to create unique pastel-on-sandpaper paintings that blend reality and fantasy. Her work is bold, vibrant, and unusual, earning praise from critics like Peter Dellolio and Ann Landi for its originality and sophisticated strategies.
