The recent Film/Animation/Video alum and Student Academy Award-winning animator reflects on his passions for problem solving, the magic of filmmaking, and what RISD taught him about hard work.
Life After RISD: Checking in with Alum Rachel Cope
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Painter and designer Rachel Cope 03 SC found her place in the world as an artist when she first arrived at RISD. After earning her BFA in Sculpture, she went on to study art therapy at the SVA and has dedicated her life to designing soothing, immersive interior spaces ever since. As creative director and co-founder of Calico Wallpaper, she creates custom-fit, non-repeating wall murals that balance background and foreground, texture, color, and pattern. She also maintains a thriving painting practice and shows her work nationally and internationally. Here she shares her thoughts about life after college and lessons learned at RISD that continue to resonate.
Tell me a little bit about your professional practice.
I am the creative director and co-founder of Calico Wallpaper, which I founded with my husband Nick. We’ve been really lucky in that our livelihood depends on doing what we love. We get to work with so many amazing artists and designers and create new ideas on a daily basis.
How do you balance the responsibilities of running a business with your painting practice?
When my painting practice is thriving, the work at Calico is stronger. The key to running a successful business is knowing how to delegate and knowing what you’re good at. In the beginning, we were all kind of responsible for everything. As the company grew, we were able to hire people, delegate, and focus on what we do best.
Tell me about the creative process when you’re designing a new wallpaper collection.
I create about 12 collections per year and plan them years in advance. If I’m collaborating with an outside designer, the process starts with a mood board. We go back and forth and find a concept that works for everyone. When I do my own collections, I’m looking at trends and inspiration from the art world. I didn’t study 2D design; I studied sculpture. So, I’m not looking at design magazines, but at nature, paintings, art history. I land on new ideas through making.
How does your degree in art therapy play into all of this?
It plays a significant role. I used to paint murals in the psychiatric units where I worked and was good at understanding how to create spaces that make people feel better. Calico wallpapers are nonrepeating, immersive murals. Most of our motifs are natural, calming, and soothing. They’re aimed at transforming the space so you feel transported.
Why did you initially choose to study at RISD?
RISD was my only choice. I went to school in Martha’s Vineyard, and my high school art teacher went to RISD. I did not like school and was not a good student, but I loved being in the art room. She helped me make my portfolio, and I did the Pre-College Program. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was with my people. When I got into RISD, I couldn’t stop crying. I found my place in the world!
Why did you decide to major in Sculpture?
My dad had a woodshop and my mother did a lot of fiber arts, so I was always manipulating materials and working in his studio as a kid. I got really into carving and woodworking, and I loved to sew and to paint. I felt like I wanted to learn something new at RISD, new crafts and techniques. I had a passion for sculpture and wanted to get my hands dirty.
What lessons did you learn at RISD that you still carry with you today?
I remember the first day of drawing class, a lot of kids could draw perfectly. I had never done figure drawing, so mine looked more gestural. The teacher came around, looked at my work, and said, “This is where I want everyone to be. I know you can all draw, but I want to see your own interpretation. I want to see something that is original and honest and authentically you.” That stuck with me forever.
What do artists and designers contribute to the world that is unique?
I think the world would be a very sad place without art and design. There’s something transformative about being in the presence of art. As the world becomes more post-human and technology takes over, continuing to make things with the hand and the heart will be more important than ever.
Life After RISD is an ongoing series featuring alumni making outsized impact in culture and industry. Stay tuned for more from our graduates on how RISD has helped to shape their practices and the way they engage with the world.
interview by Simone Solondz / top photo by Em McCann Zauder
March 23, 2026
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