Rachel Maughan

Rachel Maughan | Essay

2nd Place

Art

Rachel Maughan is a senior studying art at BYU. She submitted an essay about her experience working on the “Gates of Paradise” restoration project at BYU’s Museum of Art.

“Though the panels were chipped, covered in dust and, at the beginning, abandoned in a corner, with care they have been restored to their intended beauty. I know that through this opportunity, I have been built up, gilded in faith and prepared for new opportunities ahead.”

By

Rachel Maughan

Over the last academic year, I have had the opportunity to work as a student lead on the “Gates of Paradise” project for the BYU Museum of Art. This once-in-a-lifetime experience has involved restoring 40 plaster reliefs in preparation for their public exhibition in February 2026. When I first heard about the position from a friend, I was searching for more art-related opportunities beyond my painting practice. I had little understanding of what the “Gates of Paradise” even were, but I was excited at the opportunity to try something new, especially in the field of restoration. I wanted to open doors to other art paths that I could take.

From the beginning, the project required me to develop skills that were not taught in the classroom. Restoration is as much about patience and discipline as it is about technical knowledge. I learned to carefully clean fragile surfaces and make sculptural repairs with accuracy. I realized how each inch of a panel demanded full concentration and exacting detail. This forced me to slow down, look closer and build confidence in skills that had once intimidated me — especially carving and working in three dimensions. Repetition built ability, and by the end of the year, I had overcome many of my doubts about my skills.

The timing of this opportunity in Fall 2024 was a blessing. I had been struggling to see a clear path in the arts and felt unsure of my place in the Department of Art. I did not know, and still am debating, the ways that I could direct my career. My work on this project renewed my confidence, strengthened my portfolio and gave me the courage to apply to the Bachelor of Fine Arts program. I know that without this job my application — and my belief in myself as an artist — would not have been as strong. The museum gave me a tangible sense of how my training could not only serve my own growth but also make a place for me in the broader community.

Working on the “Gates of Paradise” was not a solo effort. Over the course of the year, the restoration team expanded to include more students from the MOA and the art department. Many of them were my classmates and close friends, which created an environment of collaboration and belonging. Each of us contributed at different skill levels, and I learned to communicate, teach and problem-solve as a group. We encouraged one another to stay motivated even when the work was tedious, and together we pushed the project forward toward its October 2025 deadline for repairs and gilding. That sense of teamwork has been just as valuable to me as the technical skills, teaching me that art thrives in community.

This past year also gave me the chance to share our work outside BYU. A fellow student, Abby Erdman, and I presented our project at the Utah Museum Association conference in Kanab. It was humbling to represent the MOA and explain to museum professionals from around the state the history of the “Gates” and the role of students in their restoration. Presenting not only reinforced my communication skills but also deepened my awareness of how museums serve as bridges between history, faith and community.

Beyond the technical and professional growth, the experience has also been deeply spiritual. I have spent countless quiet hours in the basement of the MOA, studying the biblical figures and stories carved into these reliefs. In the stillness, I have felt the Spirit in small and personal ways — reminding me that the Lord often speaks in quiet moments. As I carefully repaired prophets’ faces and angels’ wings, I felt parallels to my own life: We are all broken and worn at times, yet through Christ we are restored, gilded and made whole again. This perspective transformed my work from simple repair into an act of devotion, strengthening my testimony of both art and faith. It was a daily reminder that I needed.

President Reese’s vision for inspiring learning emphasizes the integration of education with spiritual growth, mentorship and real-world application. This project has embodied that philosophy. It gave me practical, hands-on training in restoration, guided by mentors like John Adams and Liz Mallory, who supported me with patience and expertise. It connected me to peers in collaborative ways that built friendship and belonging. Most importantly, it transformed how I see my future — not only as a painter but as someone capable of preserving art for others to learn from.

Looking back, the “Gates of Paradise” have become more than a set of plaster replicas to me. They represent my own journey over the last year — learning to refine my skills, find confidence, trust in mentorship and listen to the Spirit in the quiet spaces. Though the panels were chipped, covered in dust and, at the beginning, abandoned in a corner, with care they have been restored to their intended beauty. I know that through this opportunity, I have been built up, gilded in faith and prepared for new opportunities ahead.

I am grateful for this year of work at the BYU Museum of Art, for the chance to play a part in preparing this extraordinary work for exhibition and for the lessons that will continue to shape me as an artist, a student and a disciple.