Born in Ilford, England, Rachel Whiteread studied at Brighton Polytechnic and the Slade School of Fine Art. She emerged as a significant figure in the Young British Artists movement during the early 1990s, achieving widespread recognition for her monumental public installations and precise casting techniques.

Whiteread’s practice centers on the process of casting the negative space around or within everyday objects, such as chairs, hot water bottles, and entire rooms. By utilizing materials like plaster, resin, and concrete, she transforms ephemeral voids into solid, tactile sculptures that explore themes of memory, domesticity, and absence.

In recent years, Whiteread has expanded her practice into design collaborations, notably receiving the Elle Deco International Design Award in 2026 for her work with the silversmith Puiforcat. Her work continues to be exhibited globally, maintaining her status as a pivotal figure in contemporary sculpture.