welcome, "valerie gillespie contemporary"

Desireé Vaniecia is a Dallas-based artist who creates bold and striking works that explore the complexities of the human experience. Her pieces are often deeply personal, drawing inspiration from her life and emotions. Through a combination of vivid colors and dynamic compositions, she aims to evoke a sense of movement and energy in her work, inviting the viewer to engage with the piece on a deeper level. Her work is both a reflection of the world around her and an exploration of the innermost aspects of the human psyche. Her goal is to create art that resonates with people emotionally and encourages them to look within themselves to find their sense of meaning and purpose.

You can find hints of Art Nouveau and the Renaissance era of art in Vaniecia's work as she reimagines and reinterprets these historical styles through a contemporary and personal lens. Her work explores the representation of women, particularly those of the black community, and their portrayal in art throughout history. Through her use of mixed media, including painting, drawing, and installation, she creates a unique visual language that speaks to the complexities and nuances of black femininity.

Opening Reception: September 9, 2023 @ 5-7pm

Elyse Hradecky is a Dallas born artist living and working in Manhattan, New York. Her training, based on traditional techniques, has led her to create work with a classical foundation, based on contemporary subjects. Working in both 2D and 3D, her figurative work focuses on the quiet connections created between the art and viewer. Whether through direct gaze or voyeuristic observation, she creates spaces encouraging contemplation about her subjects. Her still life paintings show the often-overlooked beauty of everyday and discarded items.

While earning a BFA in Printmaking from the Rhode Island School of Design, she was accepted to the European Honors program in Rome, Italy. Afterward, she earned an MFA with honors in sculpture, with a concentration in anatomy, from the New York Academy of Art. She has been awarded a Terra Foundation residency in Giverny, France and the Distinguished Artist Scholarship and Full Fellowship from the Art Students League Residency at Vyt.

Her work has been shown at Dacia Gallery in New York City, The Lyme Art Association Gallery in Old Lyme, The New York Academy of Art in New York City, The Edward Hopper House Museum in Nyack, Neoteric Fine Art in Amagansett, Union Arts Center in Sparkhill, Frontrunner Gallery in New York City, and Wayfarers Gallery in Brooklyn. 

Opening Reception: September 9, 2023 @ 5-7pm

Established in 2019, Pencil on Paper Gallery is a contemporary art gallery in the Dallas Design District that promotes emerging, mid-career, and veteran artists. With an emphasis on community-based engagement through the empowerment of artists, the gallery provides a platform which represents a diverse array of culture and artistry while fostering an appreciation for the arts. The gallery is a proud member of CADD (Contemporary Art Dealers of Dallas) and has been featured in Harper’s Bazaar, The Dallas Morning News, Patron Magazine, D Magazine, PaperCity, Dallas Weekly, and Douglas Elliman Magazine. In addition, represented artist Desmond Blair was featured on Gail King's CBS Mornings for his exhibitions at Pencil on Paper Gallery. Gallery features have aired on ABC, CBS & NBC local news platforms. Pencil on Paper Gallery has collaborated with the Martin Museum in Waco to feature the art collection of Jessica and Kelvin Beachum in the family's second exhibition of, "Narrative as Reality." Pencil on Paper Gallery first collaborated with the Beachum Family at the Hawn Gallery at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, curating works from the family collection. Pencil on Paper Gallery is entering its 6th season and is excited to announce new programming with its nonprofit, Valerie Gillespie Contemporary. Please visit VGC here!