GILDA uses her art as a means of connecting humanity and nature, a channel for the universal energy she perceives primarily through animals. She depicts them in a vibrant Pop Art style, often employing soft pastel colours, with animals as the central figures. She uses them as powerful emotional and psychological symbols, inviting viewers to reflect on human instinct and behaviour. The images surrounding the main subject – including fragmented figures, text, and abstractions – create a dynamic tension between control and spontaneity. The combination of acrylic brushwork and spray paint firmly places GILDA’s work within Contemporary Figurative Art, Street Art, and Pop-influenced Urban Contemporary practice. She creates art that reflects her spirit and her unique way of expressing creativity: she does so authentically, without being guided by external trends – a quality that has helped her stand out in the art world.
Rosey Froggy, 6 by 6 Feet, by GILDA, Acrylic and Spray Paints on Linen, 2009
Throughout her artistic career, GILDA has created artworks intended for permanent display in children’s museums, hospitals, and public spaces. Her collaborative mosaic murals stand out as one of the most distinctive and socially impactful bodies of contemporary American public art. Every single one of these pieces was donated. Conceived from the very beginning as generous gifts to the communities that now house them, these works are currently valued and insured at nearly one million dollars. She actively encouraged all participants, often residents, to contribute creatively as the projects evolved. This inclusive approach has caught the eye of leading art investment firms, who see her practice as a powerful example of corporate social responsibility and sustainable luxury in action. In recent months, her large-scale, museum-exhibited paintings have been acquired by important private collections for prices approaching $100 thousand each. These works are currently available for purchase through Chrissy Moore Art Advisory on Artsy.net. During our conversation, she shared the following insights about her painting practice.
Gilda, how do you choose the subjects for your artwork?
It’s important to understand that I create art because of the way I see things. I’m fascinated by the different personalities of all living beings. I especially love dogs. I often take naps holding them in my arms so I can feel their energy. Even when I’m planning a huge cartoon-style painting, I learn everything I can about the realistic aspects of the human or animal that is my subject. Since I was a small child, I’ve been creating works of art about humans and the animals or pets that I’ve had the good fortune to meet along the way. Because meeting them enriched my life in such a positive way, I paint them to remember and honour them. In my work, I’m trying to explore something I observe over and over again in most living creatures: they often behave in very childlike ways, yet possess almost supernatural powers like extremely developed hearing. I’m also deeply interested in human creativity and how each person expresses it in their own unique way.
Are there any artists that have influenced your imagination more than others?
I was born in Manhattan, New York City, and as a small child, I admired the beautiful graffiti on the subway trains. That definitely inspired my spray painting. On weekends, my parents would take the train to East Hampton to visit friends, and I had the chance to spend time in the art studios of Willem de Kooning and James Rosenquist. Their artworks were incredibly powerful, and I still remember them vividly, even though I was very young.
Beautiful Paintbrush, 5 by 4 feet, by GILDA, Acrylic and Spray Paints on Lined Canvas, 2010
What are the key characteristics that define your painting style?
I’m always searching for a positive, dynamic, mysterious energy force that I can capture across the entire space of the canvas. Art is incredibly exciting and mysterious to me. After working on museum-sized mosaics with large groups of volunteers, I realised that this collective energy dynamic was something I wanted to bring into all of my artworks. My mission is to keep both artists and viewers inspired. If my paintings make people feel uplifted or intrigued, then I’ve succeeded – it’s not just about me as an artist. I believe creativity is a God-given gift to humanity that we all share, regardless of our field. It was fascinating to work with large groups of volunteers contributing their creative energies to those museum-sized mosaic projects. More recently, due to Covid and a lifelong chronic asthma condition, I’ve had to take a break from working with large crowds. Catching Covid or the flu can have serious consequences for me, which is why I now prefer to participate in art openings online rather than in person.
How do you hope your artworks might benefit animals?
I really hope all animals will continue to be studied and better understood, because their intellectual and emotional abilities appear to be far higher than we currently realise. I often incorporate words into my artworks. As a child, I grew up around many well-known poets and writers, friends of my parents who visited often. Their influence helped me understand that images and designs on a canvas or sculpture can also contain words. Words are incredibly powerful. Animals seem to understand our language and commands, and they appear to sense our feelings even without any words being spoken.
For further information, please refer to GILDA
To purchase GILDA artworks, please contact Chrissy Moore at chrissy@chrissymoore.art
Article edited by Claudia Chiari