About

Rain is a visual artist and researcher who lives and works between Essex, South East London and Newcastle. They graduated with a degree in Sculpture from Camberwell University of the Arts in London in 2013. They also hold an MA in Fine Art (2018) and an MA in Queer History (2021) from Goldsmiths, University of London. They are currently a final-year PhD candidate funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) within the Performance Cultures and Contemporary Art Research clusters at Northumbria University.

Rain's creative practice encompasses written text, sculpture and performance. Through these mediums, they explore notions of identity, gender, and sexuality. Their current research interests lie in exploring weightlifting and gym practices to rethink embodiment and embodied experiences: how bodies are practised in athletic contexts and systems to challenge strict, socially coded gendered expectations. Carving space for more fluid and non-binarised representations of gender in athletic spheres.

Rain has exhibited their work extensively across the UK and Europe. In 2013, they exhibited their undergraduate degree show exhibition as part of Saatchi's New Sensations Award. They received the 2018/2019 Goldsmiths and Acme Studio award, supported by Jane Hamlyn. Their work has been featured in various creative outlets, including "Fleisch," a book celebrating queer artists (Germany, 2019). As a researcher, Rain contributed to "Queer Pandemic," a video-based oral history project that captured stories of LGBTQI+ people in the UK during the pandemic, which was later exhibited at Queer Britain 2022. In 2023, they were awarded the Artquest Adaptions award, a development award for artists who live outside of London explore new ways of working to support their practice.

In addition to their creative work, Rain is a passionate advocate for LGBTQI+ rights and regularly works as an advisor and independent writer championing inclusivity. They are also an associate lecturer on the BA (Fine Art) Sculpture Degree at Camberwell University of the Arts in London.

Email: rainkhoward@gmail.com

Instagram: just_call_me_rain_