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

Let’s work together!

InfoGelyArt@gmail.com