“Inspired Portraits” On Exhibition at Galletly Gallery

Inspired Portraits, a new exhibit at New Hampton School’s Galletly Gallery, will host a reception with the artists on November 15, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. This free exhibit runs from November 4 to December 14 (closed November 22 – December 1 for Thanksgiving break). Gallery hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., and Saturday, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. Located on the second floor of the Moore Center.

Danielle Festa is a conceptual realist who creates thought-provoking, narrative-driven work for healing and transformation. In 2021, Festa’s work set out to reimagine the role of figurative paintings, traditionally reserved for the elite. She highlights the strength of those who have survived trauma and presents the resulting portraits to them through a nonprofit she founded, called The Aplomb Project. Festa emphasizes the power of dress to empower individuals by incorporating materials and fabrics into her realistic oil paintings. The powerful portrayal of survivors in attire that embodies their personal strength serves to inspire viewers. The contrast between abstract brush strokes or ink backgrounds and hyper-realistic portraits creates a dynamic tension. Her color choices reflect the complexity of intertwined traumatic experiences, evoking deep emotions and showcasing the emergence of courage.

Jozimar Matimano is a fine art painter. He was born in the East of Democratic Republic of Congo, Butembo, but moved to Uganda at ten years old. In 2016, Matimano moved from Uganda to Manchester, NH as a refugee through a program called International Insitute of New England. In 2018 he began painting in his free time as a way to express himself, and then realized he had a voice that he could use to tell stories through his paintings. “I have a voice. I am a vessel for storytelling. When people look at my art I want them to feel a deep connection with the struggle and the experiences this generation went through. The symbolism in my paintings allows me to make statements about humanity and the global condition, as well as my feelings and opinions on politics, wealth, and social justice that I cannot express through words.” “I chose portraiture as the medium for my stories because I believe there is an instant connection between an artist and a viewer when they can feel the emotions painted on my subject’s face.”

Patricia Schappler is an East Coast painter and draftsman with a focus on the human figure. Showing nationally, she is an active member of several societies including the Portrait and Pastel Societies of America, the Women’s Caucus for the Arts, and PoetsArtists. Inspired by the complexity of human relationships and the bond that holds them together, Schappler searches for the sacred within the ordinary.  She frequently works from her family and her community of students and colleagues. Originating from her interest in the narrative of home, she often uses fairytale, myth, and biblical story as a means to enter the picture plane, within her imagery, she questions how we define home, where we find it, and how we protect it with the underlying belief that home is, at its’ richest, expansive.

Maya Rose is a Maine artist whose work in oil, acrylic, and newspaper is painterly and expressionistic. Her inspiration comes from the complexity of stories and emotions that make up an individual. “People are full of narratives and stories that make a person who they are and who they will become. These narratives are represented through the composition, bold colors and newspaper articles within the artwork. The work represents individual identities while emphasizing their psychological characteristics in an expressive way. I use color, composition, texture and mixed media to create works that spark curiosity about human emotions and personal experiences.  My work brings the audience back to their core of human interactions while creating a space to connect one’s own life to those portrayed within the paintings.”