Gwen Cates Artist Statement 2024
Each of my solo exhibits over the years has had a different theme, and each time my goal has been to express what I have seen in the living landscape or sensing in the world around me. Some of my paintings explore deep-seated archetypal images drawn from earlier imaginings, figurative paintings, research, and dreams.  I paint to transform these concepts through vibrant color and strong compositions. My goal is to create powerful and imaginative paintings. I use acrylic paint and mediums to create layers and embed gold leaf, algae from oak trees, butterflies, and other natural materials in my work, which I included in my solo exhibit "Cosmic Monologues" which was held in Los Angeles in 2019.   

At this point in my career, I have shown my paintings in many solo and shared exhibits around the United States and in Britain. Each solo exhibit has offered a unique challenge, not only from a creative perspective but also a logistic one. The last time I exhibited in London, I had to roll up each painting and ship them in cardboard tubes, reassemble them and then my daughter drove her horse van into Earl's Court in the city center. Luckily the effort was worth it, because the metaphysical art show at Edith Grove Gallery was a great success, with all the painting selling to a curious, rather royal and enthusiastic audience. There was nothing to take home but new friendships and a smile.

My latest collection of paintings, "Seasonal Reflections on the Rivanna River" has emerged out of the last few years of walking and riding by the river. This proposed art exhibit is designed specifically for the Charlottesville community, although people from all around Virginia are likely to come to the opening. People enjoy seeing landscapes of the area in which they live. People often tell me they had never seen so many colors in the river before. My landscapes can also give people a doorway into their own inner landscapes. This proposed exhibit is a mixture of landscape (or river-scapes) that begins with paintings of vibrant spring river full of new life, leading to a lazy summer river, colorful autumn paintings, and then the stillness of snow on the riverbanks. The viewers would be encouraged to follow the paintings sunwise from the spring paintings around to winter paintings. Just like memories, the paintings could be viewed in reverse also. The idea is to become increasingly aware of our imaginative "innerscapes" as we view work and become inspired to create the art, poetry, and music that lives within us.

Please read my interviews with the following journals and magazines that we created for my exhibits "Cosmic Monologues"& "Cosmic Adventures" in Los Angeles: http://gwencatesart.net/Articles_Web_Links.htm