Gaja Frampton

Biography

Born and raised in Alaska, Gaja Frampton developed an early love for visual arts inspired by nature. She started doing representational watercolors of landscapes as a child, and became increasingly intrigued by the dichotomy and interplay between civilization and the wild. She studied Art History at the University of Texas at Austin where she developed a growing interest in 20th century abstract masters. As a result, Gaja’s previously conservative painting style turned into something much more expressionistic and abstract. Her formal instruction includes extensive classes and workshops in drawing, watercolor painting, oil painting, collage, and acrylic painting. Along with her love of 20th century abstract painting, the next greatest influence on her work has come from her experiences in the West- Texas, New Mexico, California, and Alaska. Combining the simple aesthetic of abstract painting with the inspiration she finds in the natural West guides her creative dialogue.

When not painting, she enjoys hiking and exploring new areas of the West with her husband and her son. She resides in the San Francisco Bay Area where she is actively involved in various local arts organizations.

Artist Statement

Visceral Deconstructions

My work stems out of a desire to facilitate a positive, instinctual response to abstract, deconstructed themes. In many cases, the same painting can provoke a wide variety of reactions, but I believe that there are some paintings that are intrinsically eloquent. By deconstructing scenes that I have encountered in my life and recomposing them in a more basic, elemental way, I believe paintings can provide a more fundamental and nourishing experience that speaks to people on a visceral level.

Discovering balance and harmony in asymmetric forms and images provides the foundation for my most recent works. In nature, examples of this can be found in the twisting branches of a tree, an uneven ridgeline against the sky, or the way a shadow accentuates a dirt pathway. Subtle, foundational elements of these scenes, when lifted and explored on canvas, convey the intrinsic beauty of asymmetrical harmony. Using textural variations and expressive colors, I seek to evoke a reaction both experiential and instinctual.