Michelle Gagliano

Michelle Gagliano is an American artist based in Central Virginia and is known for enigmatic, abstract oil paintings that depict natural forms with textural patinas, particularly of landscapes and light. Gagliano practices sustainability in her art practice and personal life by growing and making a majority of her materials, such as oil paints, from recipes that derive from the Old Masters of the Renaissance. In 2023, she was inducted as an official member of the Gallery Climate Coalition.

Early life and education She was born in Jamestown, New York to a family of Italian, Swedish, and Mayflower origins. She studied painting with Vernon Fisher at North Texas State University. This influenced her experimental dialogue with materials and the historical investigative nature of her work. Fisher encouraged her to study at the Chautauqua School of Art and wrote her a letter of recommendation. She has painting degree from Plymouth State University and Master of Fine Arts from American University.

Career She has been painting for more than 25 years. She completed residencies at Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Chautauqua School of Art, and Galleria La Nica. She has exhibited solo shows at different cities in the United States, Europe, and Asia. In 2017 she was awarded a fellowship at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the same recognition give to Cy Twombly in 1949. Since 2018, Gagliano has worked with only non-toxic, sustainable materials that guarantee minimal waste.

She is the first female artist to paint and interpret all 34 Cantos of Dante Alighieri's "Inferno". It took her 33 weeks for her to complete her mixed media interpretation of the "Inferno" and exhibited the work in 2017.

In addition to painting full time, Gagliano teaches part time at Virginia Commonwealth University. She teaches classes she developed herself for illustrating Dante's Inferno and a Modern Materials class that teaches the implementation of sustainable practices in the fine artist's studio.

Exhibitions The William King Museum of Art, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the American Embassy (Rome, Italy), are among the public collections holding or have held work by Gagliano.

Awards She received Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fellowship award in 2017.