Gabrielle Garland is an artist who creates square-format, mixed-media paintings that capture the essence of homes without depicting people. Her vibrant and colorful depictions of houses have a unique charm that makes them almost feel like portraits. From mailboxes and landscapes to colorful stoops and glowing interior lights, Garland’s paintings exude a sense of life and emotion.
The homes in Garland’s paintings often take on distorted and cartoonish qualities, representing a variety of American vernacular styles such as ranches, bungalows, and Queen Annes. These houses are not just standalone structures but are often accompanied by neighborhood elements like adjacent buildings, power lines, trees, and even planes flying overhead.
A new solo exhibition of Garland’s work, titled “I’ll Get You, My Pretty, and Your Little Dog Too,” is set to open at the Miles McEnery Gallery next month. The exhibition showcases Garland’s unique style, which often incorporates quotes from films in her titles, adding an extra layer of depth and intrigue to her pieces.
Garland draws inspiration from her everyday surroundings in New York and beyond, often working from her own photographs or found images. She describes her body of work as an exploration of the physical fabric of society, documenting the balance between our desire for independence and interconnection, comfort, and disorientation.
“I’ll Get You, My Pretty, and Your Little Dog Too” will be on display from September 4 to October 25 in New York City. To learn more about Garland’s work, visit her website and Instagram. If you are a fan of stories and artists like Gabrielle Garland, consider becoming a Colossal Member to support independent arts publishing and enjoy benefits like ad-free browsing, saving favorite articles, discounts in the Colossal Shop, a members-only newsletter, and giving back to art supplies in K-12 classrooms.
