Rachel Maloney

Research Focus
Rachel’s practice-led research weaves experimental analogue photography and filmmaking with domestic artefacts and archival collections to explore how personal histories—especially those of women—can be reimagined and retold through creative practice.

The Matriarchive (2021): V&A / UOB Research Fellowship
In 2019, Rachel was awarded the V&A Museum / University of Brighton Research Fellowship for her project "The Matriarchive". This project aimed to uncover the often‑marginalised memories and experiences of women in the home via investigation of female-centred narratives in Victorian photographic albums from the V&A’s Royal Photographic Society collection. It combined archival research conducted on-site at the V&A with a series of participatory workshops, fostering a collaborative dialogue on family histories, domestic life, and photography as a tool of remembrance and storytelling.

Research Methodology & Creative Practice
Rachel draws on an eclectic, interdisciplinary toolkit including: participatory workshop facilitation, artmaking, archival study, analogue filmmaking, experimental photography, philosophical reflection, and playful imagination. These methods enable collaborative storytelling within domestic and archival frameworks.

Rachel Maloney is an artist–researcher and co‑founder of the creative duo Thomas & Maloney. She works as a Lecturer on the BA (Hons) Fine Art course and as a Technical Instructor in the Photo Video Unit at the University of Brighton. Rachel recently completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice  and is an accredited Fellow of Advance HE (FHEA).

Alongside her academic role, Rachel has contributed external guest lectures and presentations at the University of Falmouth, Royal College of Art (Photography MA Pathway), University of Sussex, and the University of Louisville (USA).

My approach to teaching is shaped by recent pedagogic scholarship as a student on the Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice with a focus on experiential learning within creative subjects. I am currently exploring ways to embed inclusivity into curriculum design and examining the diverse approaches that Fine Art and other creative disciplines use to do this effectively. I enjoy working collaboratively with students and colleagues to foster peer learning and open dialogue. I aim to dismantle barriers created by institutional hierarchies and cultivate an inclusive, participatory learning environment.