Gisela A. Lazarte photographed in her studio in NYC by Javier Alejandro Cerrada

Gisela A. Lazarte (b. 1989) is an abstract artist living and working in New York City.

Gisela’s practice is driven by exploration, shaped by a mixture of memories, present feelings, subconscious thoughts and sensory stimuli. Her process is akin to a meditation-in-action, where intention and intuition converge. Through this deeply personal approach, her work delves into a wide range of subjects, from everyday observations to questions about identity, belonging, and her experiences as both a second- and first-generation immigrant. While she was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, her parents originally emigrated from Peru. She has been based in New York City since 2016.

Furthermore, holding a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Audiovisual Arts, and an M.A. in Film Directing, her paintings place a special emphasis on conveying movement and exploring how sound and music influence our rendering of images.

Gisela’s washes and marks seek to encourage an intimate, unique, and expansive dialogue, propelled by feelings and subjective thoughts, between the viewer and the piece. She believes that art should be an active experience, not just for the artist but also for the viewer. Gisela finds that abstraction allows her work this level of freedom, in both expression and interpretation, striving to create paths that bridge connections for our own human experiences; beyond words and language barriers.

Gisela A. Lazarte has exhibited her work in New York as well as virtual international exhibitions. Her paintings can be found in private collections around the world, such as the UK, Austria, Spain, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Venezuela and Peru, along with numerous cities across the United States.

“Artworks are mirrors for our inner worlds. The thing is a lot of us have spent a lot of time quieting that inner world. Abstract work can be particularly challenging in this sense because there are no clear symbols. There are no cheat sheets. It’s up to you, the viewer, to assign meaning to them. Now, this doesn’t mean there is not substance there, on the contrary. But the (other) thing is, we are too used to wanting this substance to be defined by words.

In the world we live in, it’s uncomfortable to be asked to feel. To just sit with those feelings. thoughts and words may follow afterwards. We may not like them. Or we may suddenly feel a sense of calm joy that feels inexplicable, unspeakable. In a dialogue sparked from human creation, we grasp something about our own humanity. the artwork is the conversation starter, and it is a constant lively force that we get to experience differently as time evolves, as we evolve.

I strongly believe that connecting with our humanity is not only essential but, as it continues growing faint through the times we live in, it has almost become an act of rebellion. And in a long search through my years, I know the best way I can personally offer that bridge for our inner worlds is through my art practice. It is where I pour my spirit and extend it out to yours.” -Gisela A. Lazarte