Catherine Gutierrez is an abstract oil painter specializing in galactic depictions, loose color fields, and energetic splatters. She feels a kinship to the Bay Area in relation to her work and her own bi-racial identity, “The bay definitely influences my artwork. The sky is a constant source of inspiration with its amazing sunsets. The different artists and cultures and people that make up the Bay also influences my work considering I’m part of two cultures, Vietnamese and Mexican.” ⁠⁠

Catherine’s process begins with cranking up “electronic chillaxing playlist on Spotify” and letting go of what the final product will be. “When making abstract work, I let go of the outcome and focus on the process and joy of creating.” She revels in throwing paint, creating textures with absorbent materials, and letting the thinned paint create its own voice on the canvas. ⁠

⁠Catherine had a show up at UCSF’s Women Building for their “Serenity: Hope and Healing” show on Floor 7. Her statement for this exhibition, up through September 17, 2021: “Art, to me, is about connection… a connection to oneself, a connection to others, a connection to Mother Earth, a connection to the Universe. In my work, you can find yourself experiencing the awe of nature or the feeling of floating through another planet. While living in our world, there are other worlds we occupy in the depths of our conscious and subconscious. Dreams influence my paintings, and in my dreams, I’ve flown through these worlds and danced as if I was levitating in the clouds.” ⁠

⁠Feature Published: July 16, 2021
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