Art

Gayle Madeira is an award-winning artist, dancer and choreographer based in New York City. An internationally recognized professional artist and dancer, she explores her fascination with the physical body through both media. In the words of the artist: “I am obsessed with figures and giving them the most honest representation that I can in artistic form.” She was fortunate to have the world of ballet and modern dance at her disposal to learn anatomy and often utilized fellow dancers as models for her drawings and paintings. Madeira grew up on a farm in Virginia, thus she had many animals available for artistic inspiration. She received a BFA from Purchase College, State University of New York in dance performance and choreography.

Although she has drawn and studied the figure extensively, Madeira prefers to focus her work on faces and in particular, the eyes of her models. As the artist notes, “ I feel that eyes are quite possibly the most beautiful things existing on the planet.”

Gayle has exhibited at The National Arts Club, The Salmagundi Club, the Williamsburg Art and Historical Center, and the New York Hall of Science among other galleries. Her paintings are included in numerous private and institutional collections. In 2009 Gayle was a finalist in the prestigious Artist’s Magazine’s 26th Annual Art Competition in addition to being named Artist-of-the-Month in their February 2010 issue. See the Artist’s Magazine article by clicking here.

Technique
Gayle Madeira’s primary media are oil, charcoal and watercolor. Her painting process is extremely detailed and delicate. In watercolor, she primarily employs a dry-brush painting technique, working mainly wet-on-dry to create high contrast and crisp edges.

Artists Statement
“I believe that painting and dance flow from the same source and the viewer is a participant in the choreography of my paintings. The fragility of life fascinates me and through the creation of extreme close-up portraits I search for intimacy and connections.”

Exhibitions
2012 Sylvia Wald and Po Kim Gallery, New York City
2011 Sylvia Wald and Po Kim Gallery, New York City
2010 The World of Artists, International Women’s Show at the Howland Cultural Center,
Beacon New York
2009 Salmagundi Club, New York City
2009 Group show “This Woman’s Work”, Minneapolis MN
2009 New York Hall of Science, Art Envisions Science, New York City
2008 Center for Modern Psychoanalytic Studies, New York City
2007 Antagonist Art Movement gallery, New York City
2006 Solo Show, Frances Goodwin Space, New York City
2006 GoogleWorks, Reading, PA
2005 80 Fifth Avenue Gallery, New York City
2005 V-Day Exhibition, Hunter College, New York City
2004 National Arts Club, New York City
2004 In the Spotlight, 80 Fifth Avenue Gallery, New York City
2004 National Association of Women Artists Gallery,
New York City
2003 Solo Show, Frances Goodwin Space, New York City
2003 Brave Destiny, Williamsburg Art and Historical Center, Brooklyn, New York
2003 Women, Trauma and Visual Expression, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, Illinois

Selected Commissions
2012 Portrait: Lady for Ellen Herz, Boston MA
2012 Portrait: Pasha for Lexa Roséan, New York City
2011 Portrait: Barry and Dorit for Barry and Dorit Black, New York City
2011 Portrait: Barbara Huduck, New Jersey
2009/10 Ten portraits for film Prayer to a Vengeful God: Paul, Leah, Dan (charcoal), Dan (watercolor), Jenn (charcoal), Jenn (watercolor), Jillaine, Beau, Amanda and Gayle
2008 Portrait: Lulu for Janet Panetta, New York City
2008 Portrait: Luke for John Bentham, New York City
2007 Portrait: Caleb for Laurie and Mark Pascual, Colorado Springs, CO
2007 Portrait: Arlo for Gina Paolillo and Ronnie Cusmano, New York City
2006 Portrait: Mason for Dawn and Jack Silverstein, New York City
2006 Portrait: Scarlett for Laurie and Mark Pascual, Colorado Springs, CO
2006 Portrait: Tantor for Lila Rhey, New York City
2005 Portrait: Vinny for Lila Rhey, New York City
2004 Portrait: Julia for Lila Rhey, New York City
2004 Portrait: Lucy and Widget for John Bentham, New York City
2003 Portrait: Sunset for Lisa Aull, Goldman, Sachs & Co., New York City

Publications and Projects
2013 Featured in Strokes of Genius 5: Best of Drawing | Composition
2010 Artist-of-the-Month in The Artist’s Magazine February issue
2010 Fifteen paintings shown in feature length film Prayer to a Vengeful God by Dan Eberle
2009 Finalist in The Artist’s Magazine 26th Annual Art Competition, Animal/Wildlife category for painting entitled LB
2007 Movie poster: JailCity by Daniel Eberle, New York City

Awards and Honors
2004 Dorothy Tabak Memorial Award
2003 Award of Excellence, Manhattan Arts International

Affiliations
Portrait Society of America
Cecilia Beaux Forum
National Association of Women Artists
National Watercolor Society

Education
2010 New York Academy of Art, New York City – oil painting with Dennis Cheaney
2009 Grand Central Academy of Art, New York City – figure drawing with Sam Wisneski
2005 Art Students League, New York City – figure drawing and anatomy with Terence Coyle
2005 School of Visual Arts, New York City – workshop in Maya, a 3D computer animation program
1999 School of Visual Arts, New York City – illustration with Elizabeth Sayles
1992 State University of New York, Purchase, BFA