For Gillian Wainwright, painting begins with looking.
A Chicago-based artist and graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Wainwright has spent years exploring the world immediately around her: her garden, her home, and the quiet moments that shape everyday life. Rather than simply documenting these familiar spaces, however, she approaches painting as a process of discovery, revealing new ways of seeing what might otherwise go unnoticed.
“I am first and foremost a perceptual painter,” Wainwright explains. “I consider the act of seeing and recording over time the things one finds as one continues to look, a vital premise for painting.”
That commitment to observation is at the heart of her work. Whether painting a garden, an interior, or a landscape, Wainwright approaches each subject as an opportunity for discovery, allowing the painting to reflect not only what is visible, but also what emerges through careful and sustained observation.
This approach can be seen clearly in Snow Day, a painting that brings together several recurring themes in her practice. Gardens, interior and exterior spaces, and portraiture all coexist within the same composition. The painting also features her husband, Dave, who has gradually become a recurring subject in her work.
“I think as artists we all, in our own way, paint our worlds,” she says. “For me it is that immediate world that sparks so much excitement and discovery.”
Recently, however, Wainwright has begun exploring a new direction. After years of focusing primarily on her home and garden, she has started painting in more remote outdoor locations.
“It’s exhilarating to be out in nature with no boundaries,” she explains.
2024 • Oil on Canvas
This shift can be seen in Meet Me In The Woods, a recent work that reflects her growing interest in painting beyond the familiar spaces that have long inspired her practice. While the setting may have changed, her commitment to observation remains the same. Whether painting a garden path, a snowy window view, or a wooded landscape, Wainwright continues to investigate how looking closely can transform ordinary experiences into something unexpected.
To learn more about her artistic journey, influences, and approach to painting, read Gillian Wainwright’s interview with Curatory Magazine.
Content writer on the marketing team at Singulart, where she started her journey in sales before moving into artist relations and marketing. Originally from Portugal and based in Paris, she writes about art market trends, collecting and artist spotlights. Holds a BA in International Relations. With a background in music, she has a personal understanding of the dedication and challenges that come with a creative career.
