About Me
My name is Gabriela Armenteros Capano, and I am a Dominican visual artist currently navigating the art scene of New York City while completing my undergraduate studies in Fine Arts at the School of Visual Arts (SVA). I expect to graduate with the class of 2025. I was born and raised in the Dominican Republic, a country renowned for its colorful carnivals, exuberant costumes, and the infectious spirit of its people. My childhood was an explosion of bright smiles and vivid celebrations, a backdrop that fostered my early dreams and aspirations. It was in this lively environment that I first encountered the power of art, thanks to my grandfather, who was a fantastic artist and a guiding force in my life.
My grandfather's influence was profound and far-reaching. He was a man of many talents, but his role as an artist was particularly significant to me. I remember our family sailing trips around the island, where he would share stories about the beauty of our country and how it served as his muse. His passion for capturing the essence of our homeland inspired me to appreciate art as a form of expression and as a way to connect with and reflect the world around us. After his passing, I found myself yearning to continue his legacy. I wanted to honor his memory by creating works that mirrored his spirit and celebrating our shared heritage. This has driven my artistic dreams, guiding me through my studies and shaping my creative practice.
I am immersed in Fine Arts at SVA, where my focus is predominantly on drawing and painting. My artistic explorations often gravitate towards surrealist and abstract compositions. In my abstract work, I dive into the interplay of color, light, and shadow, examining how these elements interact and coexist. On the other hand, my surrealist pieces are born from a blend of reality and imagination, where I subtly transform familiar scenes or dreamlike visions into something that resonates subconsciously. Each composition is a manifestation of my pursuit of beauty and meaning. As a young Latina artist, I am committed to continuously evolving and refining my skills. My artistic journey has been enriched by valuable experiences, including an internship at Arawak Galleries, one of the most prestigious art institutions in the Dominican Republic. This role offered me a glimpse into the inner workings of galleries and exhibitions, teaching me about the art world’s mechanics and the importance of engagement anworld'srking. Through this experience, I learned to be more extroverted at connecting with others, a skill that I believe will be instrumental in reaching new audiences and fostering meaningful dialogues around my work. Also, adding to my experiences, I had the opportunity to take a month-long intensive at the Institute of Nebrija over the summer of 2024 with other young artists from all over the world, where I had the immense pleasure of learning the Art Market under the teachings of former ARCO art director, Carlos Uroz and the unique experience of taking drawing classes inside of the Prado Museum with Ignacio Serrano and Pablo Alvarez.
Moving forward, I will be working on my thesis for my senior year at SVA and looking for future opportunities, such as Master’s programs and Internships, that will help further my career.
Statement
My work explores the space between surrealism, abstraction, and art history. I take inspiration from classical portraiture but transform it by breaking apart human forms and placing them in dreamlike, cosmic settings. My paintings and drawings blur the line between reality and imagination, inviting viewers to see familiar images in new ways.
I am especially interested in how beauty has been defined throughout art history. The balance and realism of Renaissance art provide a foundation that I intentionally distort, while the drama and movement of Baroque painting, especially in Rubens’ work, influence my use of light and energy. Studying Rubens’ oil sketches in Madrid showed me how important experimentation is to the creative process. Like him, I use sketches to test ideas and bring energy into my compositions.
Surrealism, particularly the strange and detailed worlds of Hieronymus Bosch, also plays a big role in my work. His ability to mix reality with fantasy inspires me to push my portraits beyond the expected. The figures in my paintings are often fragmented, blended with elements of nature or the cosmos. This represents the fluid and ever-changing nature of identity, time, and emotion.
Research is at the heart of my practice. Every choice—color, composition, texture, is influenced by my studies of historical techniques and ideas. I incorporate the aged look of old frescoes, the dramatic lighting of Baroque art, and the dreamlike distortions of surrealism. My goal is to connect the past and present while making something new.
At SVA, I have embraced experimentation, letting both intuition and historical references guide my work. During Open Studios, I displayed my sketchbooks alongside my paintings to give viewers insight into my creative process. This was important to me because I wanted my audience to see the journey behind each piece, not just the final result.
For me, art is an ongoing conversation between history and modern creativity. I want my work to challenge traditional ideas of beauty and portraiture while sparking curiosity and reflection. By blending old influences with new ideas, I aim to create images that feel both timeless and unexpected.
Contact
gabyarmenteros@gmail.com