Fair Market Value of $3,350. Original Oil painting on canvas titled "Ravagers of Spirit" from Gabrielle Strong.
Gabrielle writes that she, "draws inspiration from sweeping cloud-covered skies and strives to capture both the drama and tranquility that those overcast days evoke"
A graduate of Emily Carr University, Gabrielle Strong’s practice is split between painting, ceramics and public art. Prior to attending art school, she spent five exciting years travelling to over 70 countries on all seven continents by sea on a luxury cruise-liner, leaving her with a deep connection to the ocean. Those years at sea left their mark and coupled with 20 years living on the Pacific West Coast, she is forever drawn to themes of water, weather and sky, which reoccur throughout her art practice.
Inspired by the beauty of big monochromatic moody skies, through her paintings Gabrielle seeks to capture the quiet sense of calm those overcast days evoke. Primarily working in oils, she is always searching for the moment the veil is lifted, revealing a glimmer of light on the horizon. Her work is often described as quintessentially West Coast.
As part of Canada 150, Gabrielle was awarded a major public art commission by the Government of Canada, City of Vernon and Downtown Vernon Association to commemorate Canada’s 150th anniversary, whereby she enlisted the community to help create an over 100-foot long winding river mosaic in downtown Vernon. More recently, Gabrielle has exhibited her paintings solo at Gallery Vertigo and at the Peachland Art Gallery. Her paintings are represented by Gallery Merrick in Victoria, Ashdale Gallery in North Vancouver and through the American online gallery, PXP Contemporary. Her works are also in the Vernon Public Art Gallery and the Vernon Community Arts Centre gift shops.
In 2015, Gabrielle was the Caetani Centre’s very first ceramics artist-in-residence (CeramAiR), which brought her to Vernon and where she has since made her home. Following her residency she was hired to run the AiR program for one year, and she currently serves on the Caetani Centre’s board of directors.
