CV

Rachel Sepielli
rachelsepielli@gmail.com
http://www.rachelsepielli.com


EDUCATION

Master of Arts, History of Design & Curatorial Studies, Parsons/The New School at Cooper Hewitt, 2018
Major: French fashion, 1850-1957; minor: British & Scottish textiles, 1850-1960

Awards:
Cooper Hewitt Fellow, 2016-2018
The New School Provost’s Scholar, 2016-2018
Grant recipient, Lee B. Anderson Memorial Foundation Fund, 2018

Independent study: Technology & Structure of Works of Art I: Organic Materials (textiles block), taken through New York University, Institute of Fine Arts, Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works, 2017

Master of Science, Arts Administration, Drexel University, 2015
Thesis: Alterations—The Effects of Digitization on the Study of Academic Costume Collections

Bachelor of Science, Design & Merchandising, Drexel University, 2005


RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

Fox Historic Costume Collection at Drexel University
Mary McFadden Assistant Curator, September 2023–present

  • Curated, planned and installed Modern Ritual: The Art of Mary McFadden, which received coverage in Vogue and Women’s Wear Daily.
  • Inaugural recipient of newly endowed curatorial title.
  • Research and catalogue incoming gift of 400 demi-couture garments, 200 inspiration garments and textiles, and 125 boxes of archival materials.
  • Contribute to exhibitions drawn from encyclopedic Fox Collection of approximately 25,000 objects.
  • Supervise students, provide tours to the public, and engage with major donors.

Brandywine Museum of Art
Preservation Technician for Historic Properties (Wyeth House and Studios), March 2022–August 2023

  • Independently identified preventive conservation needs and implemented solutions for collection of 9,000 objects on display at museum’s immersive historic sites.
  • Ensured safe installation and exhibition of objects on display, including collaboration with Jamie Wyeth on mounting of leather jacket worn in his Draft Age
  • Cleaned and stabilized objects and exhibition spaces after three years of emergency closures.
  • Strategized with registrars on upcoming multi-year inventory of 14,000 objects.

Briggs Auction
Cataloguer, June 2021–March 2022

  • Researched, described, and photographed objects including textiles, ceramics, glass, metals, toys, books, prints, paintings, and photographs.
  • Identified high-value objects. Strategically grouped other items to encourage competitive bidding.
  • Unpacked, safely handled, repacked, and recorded locations of objects catalogued.

Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library
Assistant Technician (Costume Mounting), January–April 2019

  • Designed and constructed undergarments and supports for yearlong exhibition of costumes from The Crown.
  • Mounted costumes on mannequins, incorporating traditional padding techniques and Fosshape limbs.
  • Assisted with installation of mannequins in exhibition space.

Conservation Intern, Textiles and Decorative Arts, July–December 2018

  • Initially hired for seven-week project; later selected for ongoing employment.
  • Moved textiles from hanging storage to archival boxes under supervision of textile conservators.
  • Modified boxes and created custom housing for objects not suited to standard box sizes, including passementerie and mattresses.
  • Organized multiple stages of moves for metal objects to allow for new shelving installation.
  • Tracked and updated location changes for more than 10,000 objects throughout rehousing process.

Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
Curatorial Fellow, Textiles, August 2016–June 2018

  • Assisted with major acquisition from collection of American Textile History Museum during its closure.
  • Researched and wrote more than 100 acquisition justifications consisting of object significance and designer biography.
  • Adapted object and designer research to be featured on museum’s popular Object of the Day blog.
  • Catalogued successful acquisitions in The Museum System (TMS).
  • Conducted research and wrote label and catalogue content for exhibitions.
  • Revised and expanded upon work of curatorial interns.

Robert and Penny Fox Historic Costume Collection, Drexel University
Collections Intern, January–November 2018

  • Assisted with exhibition research and planning. Dressed garments on mannequins with appropriate torso padding and limb supports to ensure safe and convincing presentation of each ensemble.
  • Assisted with remedial conservation efforts after discovery of live moths in temporary storage area. Identified garments in need of freezing. Packed and sealed objects properly in preparation for procedure.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

The University of Pennsylvania
Associate Editor, Almanac, February 2015–August 2016

Drexel University
Admissions Coordinator, Creative Arts Therapies, September 2012–February 2015
Administrative Assistant, Major Gifts, August 2010–September 2012

The Doneger Group
Associate Editor, August 2007–June 2008
Assistant Copy Editor, September 2005–August 2007

SPECIALIZED SKILLS

  • Intermediate reading knowledge of French and Spanish
  • Elementary reading knowledge of German
  • Handling, identification, interpretation, and housing of historic garments and textiles
  • Mannequin padding and dressing
  • Exhibition installation and de-installation
  • Digital collections management in CatalogIt, The Museum System (TMS) and EMu
  • Adobe Creative Suite


PUBLICATIONS

Simpler Times, Cooper Hewitt (October 19, 2017): https://www.cooperhewitt.org/2017/10/19/simpler-times/
This post accumulated 120 social media shares, whereas most entries are shared up to 10 times.

The World on a String, Cooper Hewitt (December 23, 2017): https://www.cooperhewitt.org/2017/12/23/ 

Revolt Against the City, Cooper Hewitt (July 29, 2017): https://www.cooperhewitt.org/2017/07/29/25722/