CUBA: New Paintings & Book by Peggy McGivern at Gildea Gallery

Plein-air artist and published author shows Cuban work exclusively in Key West.

KEY WEST, FL, April 24 2017 – Gildea Contemporary Gallery has been selected by Colorado artist Peggy McGivern as the exclusive representative for her new series of paintings from Cuba. Painted plein-air, her scenes capture the simplicity and beauty of the Cuban people as they live a life far removed from the hustle-and-bustle of American capitalism. The original oil paintings, now available for purchase at Gildea Gallery, were recently published in McGivern’s book, CUBA: An Adventure in Images and Words. It is the artist’s third body of work to feature a printed book and accompanying gallery show.

“When I first saw Peggy’s work in Santa Fe, I was struck with her fresh, contemporary palette. These are terrific paintings that offer a new perspective on travel. There’s no heaviness here, just the joy of living among the people and painting their real lives,” says gallery owner Paul Gildea. Director David Bethune is also impressed with McGivern’s technical sophistication. “These are simple paintings but not simplistic,” he says. “Peggy’s work references a number of great contemporary artists, including Andy Warhol, William Glackens, and famed photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson.” Peggy’s two previous painting shows and books focused on Central Europe with Beyond the Iron Curtain and on the American Southwest with Outside the Lines.

Peggy McGivern comes from a family of painters, so her love of the medium comes as no surprise. “I’m a third generation painter,” she tells us, “and my work is constantly evolving. It feels like second nature to me.” Commenting on her unique approach to travel, books, and shows, Peggy says, “I try to relate each painting to the one before so they carry a common thread.” This produces a body of work which then becomes a book and gallery show. The books are co-written by Peggy’s friend and travel partner Peter Stravlo who creates prose to accompany the paintings. The combination is a powerful one, drawing the reader in with evocative paintings and descriptions of pastoral landscapes or abandoned building. But the text also raises questions about how are societies differ and how we relate to each other culturally and economically.

Paul Gildea notes that portraits can be a difficult sale in any gallery but that Peggy’s work overcomes many of the problems of portraiture. “She’s able to paint people in a way that’s approachable. You’ll notice that most have their head turned away or in shadow. These are pictures with people that are just being observed, they’re not confrontational.” McGivern’s work is painted on canvas and on wood panels and sells between $800 and $6,000.

Gildea Contemporary Gallery is proud to be Peggy McGivern’s exclusive representative in Florida. The gallery is known as Key West’s destination for abstract and contemporary art and offers many “concierge level” services to its buyers, including free in-home previews and a white glove delivery and hanging service. Gildea Contemporary Gallery is located at 522 Southard St in Old Town Key West and is open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 4:30pm.

Contact:
David Bethune, Director
Gildea Gallery
522 Southard St Key West, FL
(305) 916-8602

 

[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]