Louise Gatanas' Paintings

Artist Statement

From the early stages of my career, I developed a deep passion for understanding the subject matter of my artwork. My formal training began with Chinese calligraphy and monochromatic floral paintings, which taught me to see the interplay of positive and negative space in composition. Further studies in Asian painting and Chinese art history at the China Institute in New York City expanded my artistic foundation.

Seeking to explore new dimensions, I transitioned to stone carving, exhibiting at the Sculpture Center and various sculpture organizations across New York City, New Jersey, and the Hamptons. My journey led me to Columbia University, where I studied marble carving under renowned Japanese sculptor Niizuma, and later to workshops in Michelangelo’s famed Carrara quarries in Italy. Over time, my award-winning sculptures found homes in corporate and private collections throughout the United States and Canada.

Training in both painting and sculpture granted me a unique perspective—one that fuses dimensionality with fluidity. Today, I embrace gouache as my primary medium, allowing me to blend the precision of calligraphy, the organic flow of floral forms, and the sculptural depth of my abstract landscapes. My work reflects the essence of nature through refined edges, rhythmic patterns, and vibrant, saturated colors.

Having fully explored the tactile world of stone carving, my return to painting feels like a full-circle moment—one where I bring the same purity of line and sculptural quality into color-rich compositions. My artistic journey is an ongoing dialogue with nature, form, and expression, inviting viewers to experience the world through my eyes—a journey of elegance, movement, and boundless creativity.