ABOUT GAYA

“Creation through the abstract art is the sublime freedom to express oneself. To be an artist means to me to gain that ultimate and sought-after freedom. With the power of colour, I capture the beauty of landscapes, light refractions, mysterious fluctuations of water, texture of flowers, and deviational patterns of a moving form. Music is that powerful source of inspiration which induces my profound emotions, plays on the strings of imagination and culminates in a refined creativity of artwork.” GAYA

Gaya, Contemporary Abstract Artist

INTRODUCING GAYA

Gaya is an award-winning international contemporary abstract artist from Toronto. A recipient of numerous art awards and an author of several art publications, Gaya exhibits in Americas, Europe and Asia. Her abstract paintings are proudly held in a number of private collections.

During her prominent artistic career, Gaya has succeeded in many of her endeavors. Gaya is a Leonardo da Vinci 2023 International Prize Awardee, a Winner of the Great Art UK Runner-Up Award at Lacey Summer Art Prize in London, a Featured Artist with Manhattan Arts International for years and a recipient of Human Rights? #EDU 2018, Call for Chelsea 2017, Biancoscuro Art Contest 2017 and Art Parma 2016 Winner Awards, Artprotagonist 2015 Award and the First Place Winner in CAGO Abstracts. Gaya’s achievements record spans from Collector’s Vision International Art Award Winner 2021, Palm Art Award 2019 and Artmajeur Gold Awards 2015/2014 to being the Finalist of prestigious art competitions Donkey Art Prize, Venezia Open Art and Lacey Contemporary in 2015. Moreover, Gaya’s works have been published in Art Compass 2016 by Himmelblau, Volume IX of International Contemporary Artists. The artist is remarkably featured in Aesthetica Magazine, Contemporary Art Curators Magazine, Vox Groovy and the Women in Art 278.

Gaya actively exhibits in Canada and abroad. Gaya’s works showcase in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, UK, Japan, Colombia and the United States. Her landmark art book “Stretching the Boundaries of Abstract” was published in 2015. In addition, video art projects of Gaya appear in major art events and festivals. Her abstract art photography remarkably complements the creative concepts of Gaya’s artwork.

Vienna, Biennale Austria, Serenity of Storm Ethereal

GAYA IN HER OWN WORDS

How has Gaya become an Artist?

As a matter of fact, that was not a structured or carefully thought step in my life. As spontaneous as it was, I cannot even define its timing with precision. With years, I have gradually discovered my true calling and realized that painting is what I really want and love to do. Likely, in my case it was reflective of a natural flow of events and my lived experiences. Hence, I am convinced that art creation is not determined by educational factors. The latter can contribute but not determine what we want to be. As well known, I am a Self-Taught Artist and that is not unusual: creating art is calling and not an occupation or skill.

What does inspire Gaya to create her unique abstract artwork?

There are two inspirational factors that influence my artwork. First of all, it is Music which constitutes the overwhelming and inseparable part of my creative process. Music is that powerful source of inspiration which induces the emotional background to free the imagination and to reach the point of abstractive expression at which I create. The other decisive element of my inspiration is Nature. My paintings include natural environments and objects, single elements of natural phenomena and geographical ambiance, panoramic view, and wildlife. I try to embrace and show the captivating power of colour of the landscapes and seascapes, light refractions in the texture of flowers, mysterious fluctuations of water and deviational patterns of the moving natural forms. The Nature is in the core of the most of my creations: not only a theme in my works but, remarkably, its driving force too.

What is Gaya’s creative process?

How the art creation starts? The idea of a painting may conceive first in my mind and then go through a long way of configuring and re-configuring it virtually for days. However, in some cases, it can just suddenly pop up and appear in a distinct visualized way thus triggering immediate urge for me to start painting. A lot of efforts are made to truly depict the idea and materialize it into a concrete painting. Sometimes, it is a method of trials and errors and sometimes, a painting is created in a glimpse of an unhindered continuum of action, with no single hue being changed or refined afterwards.

Artist Gaya about herself in her own words

I do not like to speak a lot about myself. Above all, I believe that the artworks are the primary source that speaks about and on behalf of an artist.

Thoughts on how the art industry could become better

Art industry is now in a phase of substantive and transformative change which happens once in decades. In the age of technological innovation and dominant inter-connectivity with such powerful tools as internet and social media, the traditional means of exchange between artists, art buyers and art intermediaries recede. They should adapt to the new realities of the digital era and fast growing internet art market in order to remain relevant. At the same time, the new technologies bring forward their own shortcomings such as enormous volumes of information to be processed and filtered. The role of art industry is to become effective in that and be able to identify the new emerging artists and artworks at earlier stages and serve their clients, i.e. art collectors and art investors, with enhanced predictive value.

Words of encouragement from Gaya to aspiring artists

Try to be yourself and express yourself as freely as possible. The process of creation should be driven by sensual and emotional sphere of the artist. The rationale element of it should be contained to the possible minimum to ensure absolute introversion and introspection. The artists certainly cannot paint preoccupied with externalities or having in mind what the viewers would think about their future work. It becomes irrelevant at that point because otherwise the painting stops being an artwork and transforms into a marketing tool. Therefore, the focus should always be the same – the internal world of an artist.

What would Gaya tell to the person who purchased her art?

First of all, I would say thank you! Thank you for understanding my art and wishing to have it as part of your daily life. I would feel honoured that a small particle of my creation would be on a permanent display in your, buyers, home incessantly radiating warmth and joy of life. I would also ask to please care about it: each painting is in need of that care.

Seeing your art hanging in someone else’s home or collection is the most wonderful as well as difficult part. Indeed, it makes me feel proud and rejoiced with the fact that my work has been noticed and appreciated. But it also makes me feel a little sad, as any separation would do, when your creation leaves your studio walls… This only lasts for a moment and after that a realization comes that this is great – your painting begins its independent journey in this world.

Abstract Art Presentation by Artist on Vimeo

ART LOVERS AND PROFESSIONALS ABOUT GAYA