Artist Bio: International artist, Gwen Cates, divides her time between Virginia and California. She began painting in the 1960s and has had art exhibits in Britain, Italy and the United States. She describes herself as a contemporary colorist, creating experimental and playful abstract paintings in acrylic, often with collage elements. The images have been inspired and grew out of earlier en plein air landscapes and figurative work. Traveling deeply into her subconscious and the world of dreams, Gwen reveals fantasies from her imagination. She creates archetypal images and incorporates winged figures, horses and other animals in her compositions. Swatches of fabric, lace, gold leaf and lichen from oak trees are some of the elements that are included in the paintings.

Download my 2017 and Preceeding Work Resume as a PDF

ARTICLES OF ACCLAIM AND MEDIA LINKS

Exhibit 2019 Gwen Cates "Cosmic Adventures",
Solo Art Exhibit in Los Angeles
Salon at the Granada

Exhibit 2018
Chroma Gallery Rivanna River Event
Painting published in Artemis Journal

Exhibit 2017
Exhibit of ten Rivanna River Landscapes on exhibit at Martha Jefferson Hospital
Commissioned painting, Love on the Other Side, acrylic collage
Fecundmellow Launch published in Artemis Journal

Events 2016
Gwen Cates moved to Virginia.
Built and began painting in Whiskey Ridge Studio

Exhibits 2015
Artist’s Talk, C Gallery, Earth, Bread, Fire - June 20
Solo Abstract acrylic, C Gallery, Los Alamos, Cosmic Monologues - May – June 24
Exhibit, SYV Studio Tour Artists at the Elverhoj Museum - May - June
LAXART Gallery, Santa Monica Blvd. Hollywood, CA, a selection of abstract paintings
C Gallery, Cosmic Horses, Chinese Year of the Horse, pop up show January

Selected Exhibits 2014:
Los Olivos Quick Draw, Featured Artist with exhibit in Mattie's Tavern Garden Room - August 16
Gloria Delson Contemporary Gallery exhibit with Opening on LA Artwalk - February

Selected Exhibits 2013:
Gloria Delson Contemporary Gallery exhibit with Opening on LA Artwalk - May
Gloria Delson Contemporary Gallery exhibit with Opening on LA Artwalk - June
Los Olivos Quick Draw, Featured Artist with exhibit at St Marks Church - August

EXHIBITS & PROJECTS 2012

Cheetah with African Motif, a 5'x9' mural painted in Gwen's studio and installed in a private home in the Hollywood Hills.

Santa Ynez Valley Artists' Studio Tour sponsored by The Wildling Art Museum

AGSYV Avant exhibit & Silent Auction

EXHIBITS 2011

Solo exhibit of Gwen Cates' abstract paintings, "Interior Monologues,"The C Gallery in Los Alamos September and through November.

EXHIBITS 2010

Solo exhibit of contemporary plain air landscapes, COLORSCAPES, at GALLERY BLEU in Los Angeles during the month of

February with two catered receptions featuring wine from Tantara Winery.

Shaw Galleries in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania exhibited a collection of Gwen's vineyard paintings with a reception featuring wines from Tantara Winery.

Exhibit and Slide Show of Gwen's vineyard paintings at The Duquesne Club in Pittsburgh with a presentation of Tantara Wines.

Hollister Ranch Paintings at Gallery 113 in Santa Barbara on the Mezzanine.

EXHIBITS 2009

Santa Ynez Valley Studio Artists' Tour sponsored by The Wildling Art Museum.

Solo exhibit of Gwen Cates landscapes at the Ballard Inn and Restaurant.

Tantara Winery Spring and Fall Open Houses.

Faulkner Gallery and at Gallery 113 group shows in Santa Barbara.

AGSYV exhibit at Cabrillo Pavillion in Santa Barbara.

SELECTED EXHIBITS 2008

Gallery 113, La Arcada Court, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz Island Paintings on the Mezzanine

The Meisel Gallery AGSYV show at the Rehabilitation Institute in Santa Barbara.

Major cash award at the SBAA Faulker Exhibit, January

Gwen painted on Santa Cruz Island with a group of SCAPE artists.

Tantara Winery Open House.

Body of Work group show at the Elverhoj Museum in Solvang.

Gwen gave an oral presentation and exhibit of her Sedgwick Ranch landscapes at Sedgwick Ranch.

SELECTED PAST SOLO EXHIBITS:

2006 Colorscapes, a solo exhibit of paintings at the Elverhoj Museum in Solvang and Painting the Bell.

Corridan Gallery Kickoff Exhibit for Santa Barbara Studio Artists Studio Tour.

2005 Featured artist for the Santa Barbara County Vintner's Association Spring Festival.

2004 Featured artist for the Santa Barbara County Vintner's Association Spring Festival.

Fox Searchlight invitational exhibit of Santa Barbara County landscapes at the Gala Premier of the film, "Sideways"

2002 Faulkner Gallery East in Santa Barbara.

Los Olivos Wines and Spirits Emporium hosted "An Evening of Tantara Wines and Gwen Cates' Art"

2003 Artist of the Month at the San Luis Obispo Artists' Gallery

2001 Solo exhibit at ArtBrut in Los Alamos.

1999 Downtown Inn Art Gallery, Charlottesville, VA

1995 Alex Gallery, DuPont Circle, Washington DC, Upstairs Gallery

1994 Alex Gallery, DuPont Circle, Washington DC, Main Gallery

1992 Edith Grove Gallery, Chelsea, London, UK

1990 Edith Grove Gallery, Chelsea, London, UK

1986 Ivy Gallery, Charlottesville, VA

1982 Living Gallery, Roanoke, VA

1981 Yeatts Gallery, Roanoke, VA

1979 Another Gallery, Roanoke, VA

SPECIAL PROJECTS:
A new major California hotel commissioned and purchased five giclee prints on canvas of Gwen's landscapes. Gwen was commissioned by Los Olivos Wines and Spirits Emporium to do a painting of the Emporium that appears on their Vin Gris wine label. The William Morris Agency sponsored Gwen to paint 3 angel sculptures, "Zodiac Angel", "Angelscape" and "Guardian of Small Creatures" for the for the Community of Angels project. Gwen painted a life-sized colt sculpture for the Santa Ynez Valley Equestrian Center. "The Santa Ynez Valley Colt" was sold at a gala auction at Sunstone Winery and is on display at Dennee's in Santa Ynez.

COLLECTIONS:
Gwen's paintings are in collections in England, Europe and the United States including Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, Santa Ynez Cottage Hospital, Linda Foster Moves, Personal Training Center, Rome, Italy; Carlos and Ingeborg Coelho private collection in LA Hollywood Hills, Radford University, president's executive office suite, Radford, Virginia; Patrick A. Feiner private collection, Amsterdam, Netherlands; General Motors - Fanuc, Detroit, Michigan; and the City of Roanoke Permanent Collection, Roanoke Civic Center Auditorium.

EDUCATION:
Gwen studied Fine Art at Virginia Commonwealth University and at Hollins University where she graduated with honors.

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