My name is Rachel Marie Droppers, but my nickname is Rexo because I grew up in Papua New Guinea in a region that doesn’t use the “ch” or “th” sounds. I am an artist/photographer/musician and mother. My 2 daughters are the joys of my life.
I was born in Sheboygan WI, but spent my childhood in a remote area of Papua New Guinea as a daughter of missionaries. Now I call Omaha, NE home. I had an amazing childhood filled with culture and multiple languages. I spent most of my days wandering the rain forest, carefully inspecting the plants and creatures with my friends from the village. I was captivated by the intense, bright colors of the rainforest and the contrasting textures. These experiences formed my eye as an artist. From age five, as soon as my legs could work a treadle sewing machine, I made skirts and shorts for my friends in the village…never using patterns. I made jewelry from seeds I picked up on the forest floor and learned how to make many arts and crafts from the people in the Sawiyano tribe.
When my family returned to the US, I continued sewing and began creating unique fashions for my new friends. I discovered my love for photography in 11th grade while doing a fashion photo shoot of a dress that I sewed and have been at it ever since. When I am behind the camera, I become very excited and forget the world behind me. I began photographing my friends and family and I also began getting hired to do portraiture.
My art teacher enthusiastically encouraged me to pursue photography and I was awarded the John Michael Kohler Arts Scholarship in 1998. With the scholarship I attended the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, where I studied photography, as well as painting and drawing. It was while I was in college that I was hired to photograph my first wedding and in 2006, I started my own photography business, specializing in weddings.
I photographed more than 200 weddings for eight years, but am taking a break from professional photography as I return to my roots and pursue my passion for sewing, color, and texture through mixed-media art using fabric and thread.