Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Norma Gely is inspired by the emotional connections between humans and nature.
Her art making process starts with honoring the inner voice by visualizing the canvas as a mirror. Norma’s perspective transformed when she became a mother. With her artwork she aims to show her son (and the world) that we are all connected. In order to understand that connection, we have to first learn to hear our inner voice.
Norma Gely’s paintings explore the connection between who she is, how she feels, and how that emotion is represented in nature.
Curriculum Vitae.
Norma Gely lives and works in Austin, Texas. Born and raised in Puerto Rico where she received a BFA from the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras Campus. Gely moved to San Francisco, CA where she completed an MA in Art Education from the Academy of Art; additionally, Gely collaborated with the Asian Art Museum, Children’s Creativity Museum, Convent & Stuart Hall Schools and an Adult Probation Center, providing workshops that taught the language of art.
Gely moved to North Carolina in 2018, and experienced her first Art Residency-Portugal in 2019. While in North Carolina, Norma has led multiple workshops including Breaking Walls Through Art, as well as presented her work in group and solo shows. She is now an Austin, TX resident. Her practice is centered in exploring connections between animals, humans, and nature. Her goal is to use art as a link between nature and community, with the objective of uniting through colorful conversation.
Education
2018
Academy of Art University
Master’s Degree- Art Education
San Francisco, California
2014
University of Puerto Rico- Rio Piedras Campus
Bachelor’s Degree- Humanities & Fine Art
Murals
2020
Scratch Ghost Face Brewery. Charlotte, NC
2020
Royal Bliss Brewery. Denver, NC
2019
Julia de Burgos. Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico.
2018
Children’s Creativity Museum. San Francisco, California.
2015
La Greca. Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico.
2013
Huella Colegial. Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.
Artist Residency
2019
Buinho Creative Hub. Messejana, Portugal
Speaking Engagements
2022
Exploring mediums: Virtual talk with High School Students
Academia Bautista de Puerto Nuevo, Puerto Rico
2021
United Fingerprints.: Virtual Workshop at Discovery Place Science.
Charlotte, North Carolina.
2019
Breaking Walls Through Art: Adult Workshop
Charlotte, North Carolina
2019
Paint & Sip
Queen City Grounds
Charlotte, North Carolina
2019
Open Streets 704
Charlotte, North Carolina
2018
A Piece of Me: Community event
San Francisco, California
2018
Painting with Lemons
Lemon Festival
San Diego, California
2017
Language of Art: Adult Art Appreciation Class
Adult Probation Center
San Francisco, California
Exhibit Juror
2022
So close | So far
Round Rock, TX
Selected Group Exhibits
2024
La Vida es Arte! Hispanic Heritage Exhibit
Austin, TX
2023
Big Medium Art Tour
Austin, TX
2021
Round Rock Pop Up Art Show
Round Rock, TX
2020
Studio 229 opening
Charlotte, NC
2020
Cool Globes:United Fingerprints
Charlotte, North Carolina
2020
Charlotte Coloring Book. Queen City Nerve
Charlotte, North Carolina
2019
McColl Center: Member Show
Charlotte, North Carolina
2019
Bank of America: Multicultural Showcase
Charlotte, North Carolina
2019
Ecos de Messejana: Buinho Residency Showcase
Messejana, Portugal
2019
Art with Heart: Elder Gallery of Contemporary Art
Charlotte, North Carolina
Solo Exhibitions
2022
Partnership with Discover Puerto Rico
Austin, Texas
2019
Re-Emerge: White Diamond Relaunch Event
Charlotte, North Carolina
News Articles
2020
#Balanceisbliss
https://www.royalblissbrewing.com/blog/balanceisbliss
Royal Bliss Brewery. 08.28.20
2020
Dialogando con el canvas
voz-es.com
VozEs. 10.22.20
2020
How to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in Charlotte.
Charlotte’s Got a Lot. 09.09.20
2020
Art with a message: Where to Check out 35 ‘Cool Globes’ scattered around Charlotte.
The Charlotte Observer. 07.01.20.
2019
Rompiendo Barreras: Hola News North Carolina
July 16 2019. HolaNews.com. Cultura
2018
A Series of Moves Toward Finding Her Path: Academy of Art San Francisco
November 1, 2018. Academy of Art. From the Cover