Artist Statement

Gabriel uses his work as a personal journal, drawing inspiration from life events and personal experiences. Painting serves as a way to explore universal themes that connect people through shared emotions. They often start with outlines or rough drafts that reflect something concrete or personal, but as they progress, they find freedom in transcending those lines, layering colors on canvas.

His art fosters a deep sense of connection to community. Through his work, he explores the contrasting emotions that arise, acknowledging the complexity of life beyond simple black-and-white perspectives. Gabriel’s previous solo show, Good Times, Hard Times, reflected both the highs and lows of life, while their work during the pandemic delved into the melancholy of love in a world at a standstill. In the summer 2025 he had a three-day solo show, A/way with Words, which explores the tension between the absence and the power of words as a means of self-expression. Those vague topics allow for complex explorations in the work.

Gabriel’s sketch work and at times paintings always returns to his studies at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Since then, he has explored the human form as a way to express ideas and challenge how the body can contort, almost like dancers to some extent. Heads are often drawn tilted back in a dreamlike state, allowing the viewer an invitation to themes of vulnerability and the expression of emotions through color