Eagle County Artist Jami Nix Rahn Opens Dual Exhibitions

Aspen —Jami Nix Rahn dropped out of art school in the 1970s. She didn't finish that degree for another 25 years.

That gap defined her career. It also defines the two exhibitions opening in Eagle County this week. Rahn is showing work at two different venues simultaneously, and the split isn't accidental. One show features her photorealistic roots. The other leans into abstract expressionism and street art influences.

The Vail Daily reported on the dual showing, noting that Rahn’s journey is a study in contrasts. She started in an era obsessed with abstraction but wanted to learn the mechanics of painting first. So she left school, flew to Europe, and lived with her father at the American Embassy in Lisbon.

"I loved how somebody would walk by an old master painting and they would stop and just stand there for hours," Rahn told the Vail Daily. "So I had to prove to myself that I could do that."

She spent six years in Lisbon, gaining gallery representation and building a name. Then she met her husband. The couple traveled the world before settling in Miami in the early 2000s. That move coincided with the launch of Art Basel Miami Beach. Rahn recognized its potential immediately, having seen the original fair in Switzerland.

She covered the scene on a blog and absorbed the local street art culture. That influence is visible in her newer work. It’s looser, bolder, and less concerned with perfect detail than the pieces from her European years.

Now she teaches at Colorado Mountain College in Edwards. She’s resisted pursuing a Master of Fine Art degree. Rahn doesn’t want to become solely focused on teaching, though she admits the regret of not finishing her bachelor’s degree drove her back to school in Miami.

"I didn't want to fall back on teaching and have to give up painting," she said.

The exhibitions offer a rare look at both sides of that equation. One show, "Art and Jazz-ish," is happening at Colorado Mountain College in Edwards. It features her oil painting Indy Vision. The opening reception is Sept. 18 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The second exhibition is also in the Vail area, though specific venue details for that show weren't fully detailed in the initial reporting. The key point is the simultaneity. Rahn is pulling her career apart for public view. You can see the Lisbon realist next to the Miami street-artist. Both are on canvas right now, in Eagle County.

Rahn’s father was a diplomat. Her husband is a partner in life and art. Her students are at CMU. The paintings are the only constant across five decades of movement.

The Vail Daily noted that many artists move from photorealism to abstract expressionism, learning the rules before breaking them. Rahn did it in reverse, or perhaps in parallel. She learned the rules in Europe while ignoring them in America.

The short version: two shows, one artist, fifty years of work. No press release hype needed. The paintings speak for themselves.

If you’re in Edwards on Sept. 18, the reception is free. If you’re in Vail, check the local listings for the second venue’s opening dates. Rahn is making it easy to compare her past and present side by side.

She spent 25 years chasing a diploma she didn't need to earn respect, but needed for peace of mind. Now she’s showing the work that came from both halves of that journey.

The degree is in a drawer somewhere. The paintings are on the wall.