Artist Gabrielle Garland creates compelling mixed-media paintings that function as portraits without depicting people. Her square-format canvases feature vibrant houses that come alive through saturated colors and emotional resonance, offering viewers a unique perspective on American domestic architecture and daily life.

Garland's work transforms ordinary residential structures into expressive subjects. Her paintings showcase various American architectural styles, from ranch houses to bungalows and Queen Anne Victorian homes. The artist employs a deliberately distorted, almost cartoonish approach that captures not just the physical appearance of these structures, but their emotional significance as well.

The paintings incorporate neighborhood elements that add context and life to each scene. Adjacent buildings, power lines, trees, and even airplanes flying overhead create a sense of place and community. Details like mailboxes, landscape choices, colorful stoops, and glowing interior lights serve as visual clues about the inhabitants and their lifestyles.

A distinctive feature of Garland's work is her use of film quotes as painting titles. These references span different eras and genres of cinema, creating an intriguing dialogue between visual art and popular culture. Her upcoming solo exhibition at Miles McEnery Gallery, titled "I'll Get You, My Pretty, and Your Little Dog Too," exemplifies this approach with its reference to "The Wizard of Oz."

According to gallery statements, Garland's architectural elements often appear disproportionate, with stairs, flower boxes, and mailboxes that swell or shrink unnaturally. This distortion reflects what the gallery describes as "the artist's memory, that murky area where structural logic intermingles with emotional noise." The paintings capture houses in various atmospheric conditions - at night, during fireworks displays, in storms, or under blazing sunlight.

The artist draws inspiration from everyday observations around her New York home and beyond. She frequently works from her own photographs while also incorporating found images into her creative process. This methodology allows her to blend personal experience with broader cultural documentation.

Garland has described her body of work as "an investigation of the physical fabric of society." In an interview with Dovetail, she explained that her paintings document "the constantly shifting balance between our desire for independence and interconnection, between the comfort and familiarity we seek and the strangely disorienting spaces we create."

The upcoming exhibition "I'll Get You, My Pretty, and Your Little Dog Too" will run from September 4 through October 25 at Miles McEnery Gallery in New York City. The show will feature multiple works that demonstrate Garland's signature style and thematic concerns.

Among the works to be displayed are several pieces with memorable movie quote titles. "Good morning, winner. Take a deep breath. Good. You're ready to dominate this day" from the 2019 film "Booksmart" appears as a 48 x 48-inch acrylic and oil on canvas work from 2024. Another piece references Snow White with the quote "Remember, you're the one who can fill the world with sunshine," rendered in acrylic and oil on a 36 x 36-inch canvas.

Other notable works include references to classic films like "A Streetcar Named Desire" (1951) with Blanche DuBois's famous line "Whoever you are, I have always depended on the kindness of strangers," created as a 48 x 48-inch mixed-media piece incorporating acrylic, oil, and glitter. Contemporary films are also represented, such as "Bridesmaids" (2011) with the humorous quote "I'm glad he's single because I'm going to climb that like a tree."

The artist's use of various media adds texture and visual interest to her work. In addition to traditional acrylic and oil paints, Garland incorporates molding paste and glitter into selected pieces, creating surfaces that reflect light and add dimensional quality to the painted surfaces.

Garland's work resonates with viewers by addressing fundamental human experiences related to home, community, and belonging. Her paintings suggest that houses serve as more than mere shelter - they function as expressions of identity, aspiration, and social connection. The juxtaposition of architectural imagery with film dialogue creates layers of meaning that invite multiple interpretations.

The artist's technique of combining personal photography with found images reflects contemporary approaches to image-making and cultural commentary. This methodology allows her to create works that feel both intimate and universal, capturing specific architectural details while addressing broader themes about American life and society.

Viewers can explore more of Garland's work through her official website and Instagram account, where she regularly shares new pieces and insights into her creative process. The accessibility of her work through digital platforms allows for broader engagement with her artistic vision and ongoing exploration of domestic architecture as a mirror for American society.