Today we’d like to introduce you to Patricia.
Patricia, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I earned my BFA from SUNY Buffalo in 1978, and soon after, moved to New York City to continue my studies at the New York Studio School. There was a period when my artistic practice took a backseat as I focused on raising my three children, but I never stopped making work entirely—I continued creating part-time, teaching art, and keeping active in the local art community
In 2007, after relocating to Florida, I was finally able to return to producing art full time. I became a resident artist at the Bakehouse Art Complex and then on to The Fountainhead Studios in Miami, experiences that reenergized my practice.
Today, I work exclusively from my warehouse studio in Hollywood, Florida. I’ve exhibited both nationally and internationally in a wide range of galleries, institutions, and museums. Most recently, I had the honor of presenting my largest museum retrospective to date at the Burchfield Penney Art Center in Buffalo, New York—a powerful full-circle moment in the city where my formal journey began.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Life, as we all come to understand, is never a smooth road. Juggling the demands of motherhood with the pursuit of an art career was one of the most difficult balancing acts I’ve ever faced. There were periods when my creative work had to be put on pause.
Along the way, I’ve faced many of the universal challenges that come with simply living a full life—financial pressures, health issues, the realities of aging, and personal loss. But I’ve come to see those obstacles not as setbacks, but as essential experiences. They’ve given depth to my work, and strength to my spirit. Each challenge added layers to the narratives I explore in my work.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work explores the layered complexity of the female experience through a multidisciplinary approach, combining conceptual abstraction with elements of humor, intrigue, and unexpected beauty. Drawing and painting are at the core of my practice, often serving as both finished works and foundations for sculpture, collage, and installation. The work reflects deeply personal yet widely resonant narratives—woven from themes of memory, identity, motherhood, aging, and the evolving roles of women.
I use materials experimentally, building tactile surfaces and visual layers that invite reflection and conversation. This multidisciplinary approach enables me to consider the relationship of material, process, and outcome. Whether on canvas, paper, or through installation, video, and performance, my work transforms everyday moments into poetic statements, opening a window into the emotional and intellectual tapestry of life. Each piece is both a personal exploration and a broader commentary, confronting the resilience, complexity, and unspoken realities of women’s stories.
What I’m most proud of is my sense of devotion to my art practice. It’s a drive that not everyone has and keeps me returning to my studio day after day, year after year. Producing art has been my anchor through every phase of life, and that commitment has carried me to places I never could have imagined. I feel incredibly fortunate to have come this far, and I remain curious and excited about what lies ahead.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I love most about living here is the natural beauty and the light—there’s something about the constant sunshine that lifts your spirit. Coming from the Northeast, where the skies are often gray and the winters long, the warmth and brightness of South Florida feel like a gift. Of course, I do miss the cultural density of New York—the energy, the abundance of galleries and museums around every corner. But life here has a different rhythm. It’s more relaxed, more spacious, and that slower pace has opened up new ways for me to engage with my work and surroundings.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.psgarts.com
- Instagram: @pschnallgutierrez
