Giselle Gautreau is a painter whose work explores landscape, memory, and the complex systems found in the natural world. Working primarily in oil and encaustic, her paintings draw inspiration from the environment, moving between close observation and abstraction to capture fleeting moments of light, atmosphere, and place.
Her work often reflects an interest in ecology and natural systems, including migratory patterns of birds, shifting coastlines, waterways, and the fragile yet resilient rhythms of the landscape. In addition to atmospheric paintings, Gautreau has developed a series of encaustic works incorporating maps and navigational imagery, exploring how we chart, remember, and move through place.
Her work has been exhibited in galleries and exhibitions throughout the United States and is held in public and private collections internationally.
Gautreau lives and works in Charlottesville, Virginia, where she maintains a studio at McGuffey Art Center. She is an artist and educator and holds a BFA from Maine College of Art & Design and an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Location: Charlottesville, VA
Profile
Visual artist specializing in oil and encaustic painting, renowned for creating luminous and atmospheric artworks inspired by the natural environment.
Solo/Small Group Exhibitions
Mirabilia Naturae (Wonders Of Nature), Second Street Gallery, Charlottesville, VA, 2023
Gay Street Gallery, Washington, VA, 2019
Two If By Land, Connaughton Gallery, UVA, Charlottesville, VA, 2018
Paintings, Writer House, Charlottesville, VA, 2018
In Smoke and Fog, Hang Art Gallery, San Francisco, CA, 2015
Local Atmosphere, Regale Winery, Los Gatos, CA, 2011
California Muse, Saffron & Genevieve, Santa Cruz, CA, 2011
East Meets West, Artemis Center, Los Gatos, CA, 2009
Catch the Air, Main Art Gallery, Richmond, VA, 2002
Epiphanies, McGuffey Art Center, Charlottesville, VA, 2000
Bee Stories, Anderson Gallery, Richmond, VA, 1999
Landscapes, McGuffey Art Center, Charlottesville, VA, 1996
Group Exhibitions
Voices of Fire, Alexander Heath Contemporary, Roanoke, VA 2023
Grounded: Landscape Explorations In Wax, Staunton Augusta Art Center, Staunton, VA, 2023
Teeny Tiny Trifecta, Second Street Gallery, Charlottesville, VA, 2023/2022/2021/2020/2018
Virginia Fall Art Tour, RH Ballard Gallery, Washington, VA, 2022
Water Works, McGuffey Art Center, Charlottesville, VA, 2022
Waxing Poetic, McGuffey Art Center, Charlottesville, VA, 2022
RH Ballard Gallery, Washington, VA, 2021
Abstractions, McGuffey Art Center, Charlottesville, VA, 2021
In the Current, McGuffey Art Center, Charlottesville, VA, 2021
Bond/Bound, Second Street Gallery, virtual exhibit, 2020
Art In the Time of Pandemic, virtual exhibit, curated by Joanne Mattera, 2020
Altered States, McGuffey Art Center, Charlottesville, VA, 2020
Melting Point: Contemporary Encaustic, McGuffey Art Center, Charlottesville, VA, 2019
Celebrating Creativity, Darden School of Business, University of VA, Charlottesville, VA, 2019
Wax, Fire and Fungi, McGuffey Art Center, Charlottesville, VA, 2018
The Exaltation of Larks, Chroma Projects Gallery, Charlottesville, VA, 2018
Art Auction, Second Street Gallery, Charlottesville, VA, 2017
Flotsam, McGuffey Art Center, Charlottesville, VA, 2017
New Members Exhibition, McGuffey Art Center, Charlottesville, VA, 2017
Flight, McGuffey Art Center, Charlottesville, VA, 2016
Inventory Salon, Hang Art, San Francisco, CA, 2015
Same, Same, But Different, Hang Art Gallery, San Francisco, CA, 2014/2013
Inventory Pick, Hang Art Gallery, San Francisco, CA, Guest Curator: Lisa Kairos, 2013
Front Lines, Hang Art Gallery, San Francisco, CA, 2013
Birds & Bees, Many Hands Gallery, Capitola, CA, 2013
Wax: Contemporary Encaustic Works, Pajaro Valley Arts Council, Watsonville, CA, 2012
Birds, Bees & Trees, Redtree Gallery, Cincinnati, OH, 2011
Earth Portraits, Santa Cruz Art League, Santa Cruz, CA, 2011
Thumbnails, Main Art Gallery, Richmond, VA, 2006
Five Painters, June Fitzpatrick Gallery, Portland, ME, 2003
Art To Go, 1708 Gallery, Richmond, VA, 2003
Artists Choose Artists, Emerson Umbrella, Concord, MA, 2003
Small Works Invitational, 1708 Gallery, Richmond, VA, 2002
Faculty Exhibition, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, VA, 2002
Mystery, Memories and Nature, Stewart Gallery, Boise, ID, 2000
The Moveable Feast, 1708 Gallery, Richmond, VA, 1998
Art Windows International, Washington, DC, 1998
International Exchange Exhibition, Shanghai University & Suzhou University, China, 1998
In Line: Drawings, McGuffey Art Center, Charlottesville, VA, 1996
On The Road: Virginia Festival of American Film, Charlottesville, VA, 1996
Curatorial Projects
Waxing Poetic, McGuffey Art Center, Charlottesville, VA, 2022
Melting Point: Contemporary Encaustic, McGuffey Art Center, Charlottesville, VA, 2019
Awards and Honors
International Encaustic Artists Grant, 2022
Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Residency Fellowship, 2021
TEDx Charlottesville, featured artist/short documentary, 2020
Achievement in the Arts Award, National League of American Pen Women, 2016
Professional Artist Fellowship, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, VA, 2001
Individual Artist Fellowship, Virginia Commission for the Arts, VA, 2000
Mentorship Award, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 1998
Commonwealth Award, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 1997
Public Collections
McIntire School of Commerce, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Poyner & Poyner Law Offices, Los Gatos, CA
Red Hen Press, Pasadena, CA
Dyklaine Industries, San Jose, CA
Altria Corporation, Richmond, VA
Resident Artist
McGuffey Art Center, Charlottesville, VA
Education
Master of Fine Arts, Painting, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Painting, Maine College of Art & Design, Portland, ME
Goddard College, Plainfield, VT
Contact Information:
Giselle C. Gautreau
Charlottesville, VA
gg@gisellegautreau.com
www.gisellegautreau.com
Instagram: GiselleGautreau.Art
