In her workshop on the outskirts of Madrid, artist Gabriela Serrats has crafted a fascinating artistic realm. Her visually powerful paintings capture everyday scenes, which she deconstructs into forms and imbues with volumes. “I focus on the color of the setting,” she explains, “distort it in my own way, and give it composition. I can start from a doorway, a staircase, or the facade of a house… Then I combine it with a memory, something I imagine, an experience… and music is always present.” Gabriela, a graduate in Fine Arts, works with acrylics, oil pastels, lime paint, and, of course, natural pigments. But her paintings go beyond flat surfaces—they incorporate textures and dimensions. “I combine various materials, such as paper (pleated, painted, or torn by me), dyed and painted fabrics… and I incorporate reliefs using cardboard to create overlays, lights, shadows, and scenes with depth.”
After completing her studies, Gabriela Serrats lived in Paris and London, working as a fashion designer for prestigious brands like Nina Ricci and Alexander McQueen. The world of haute couture became an infinite source of inspiration for her. One day, spontaneously and naturally, without any intention of reinvention, she traded fashion for painting. She returned to a realm that speaks of her sensitivity to art and her aesthetic personality. It was Vito Vicuña, a scout for emerging artists and artisans, who introduced us to this painter and her artworks, which now tempt architects, interior designers, and private collectors alike.
Gabriela Serrats’ paintings are not mere flat canvases; they come alive with shapes and volumes reminiscent of ceramic sculptures. She follows a color palette that remains consistent across all her works, although she admits there are no limits when creating a new hue. Her artistic output falls into two lines: Chromatic, where she explores a varied color palette by applying different ranges or focusing on a single tone, and Monochromatic, dedicated to specific colors. Both styles feature a volumetric finish that personalizes any space within a home.
Additionally, Gabriela has a wonderful collection of very special paintings on a personal level—Mother & Son. “I have three very creative children,” she says, “and they are accustomed to drawing with me, gluing, cutting, and, most importantly, understanding how a painting is created—from a blank canvas to a piece of art.”
Gabriela Serrats’ textured, colorful, and evocative works invite viewers to explore their own memories and emotions. With each brushstroke, she weaves a narrative that transcends the canvas, inviting us to step into her captivating world of textures, colors, and cardboard reliefs.