Alumni Spotlight:

Danika Rasmussen

Danika Rasmussen (RAP 2022) is a 21-year-old student artist from Newtown, CT based in the Greater Philadelphia Area. They work in multiple mediums and styles, both visual and performance, and are currently completing their undergraduate degree at Haverford College; B.S. Candidate in Astrophysics and B.F.A. Candidate in Fine Arts with a concentration in Painting.

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Rome Art Program: How did your time with RAP influence your work?

Danika: RAP really brought me into a place of comfort with my work where I could just try things and play with different media. As someone who is a perfectionist, getting started and experimenting are often my biggest hurdles to creating.

RAP: What was your favorite place in Rome and why?

Danika: I really loved Villa Doria Pamphili for its variety of architecture and features, and how they were built into the park. We only went once, but I wish I had had more time to explore there.

RAP: What has been your biggest art success since studying in Rome and what are you working on now? What are your hopes for the future?

Danika: I’m currently working on completing my undergraduate theses, one of which is my Fine Arts thesis. This is my largest artistic undertaking and is the first time I’ve truly had the opportunity to build a cohesive body of work. My central concept is gender expression in self-portraiture, based on the evolution of my past self-portraits throughout college. My thesis will be presented, along with those of my peers, in the Cantor-Fitzgerald Gallery on campus at the end of April.

RAP: What is your advice for future RAP students?

Danika: Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to start. Take that risk, put something on paper, and see what comes from it!

@danika.rasmussen