Capturing the essence of being female through a prism of intrigue, humor, and absurdity, Patricia Schnall Gutierrez offers a fresh perspective on the narratives that shape women’s lives. She believes that women have been oversimplified and misrepresented throughout eras in media and art history. Navigating the illusion between past and present, Patricia creates a contemporary chronicle of life interwoven with memories of joy, sorrow, growth, and introspection.

These emotions, she contends, need not be simplified, as they occur simultaneously in the lives of individuals. Themes of identity, feminine roles, child rearing, and aging are used as threads in the weaving of her own experiences.

Patricia’s feminine-based approach extends beyond drawing and painting to include sculpture, installation, performance, and film. While her drawing and painting are intentionally calculated, her sculptures and installations are freely associative, exploring what it means to be feminine. Her performances and films poetically capture collective female consciousness, recording the stories of herself and women in her community. By layering materials and objects, she draws viewers into deliberate dialogues that probe questions about female roles and experiences.

To witness Patricia approach her work is to see a consummate artist in action. As if in dialogue, she is a dancer, or method actor, stepping up to and into the piece. She intently focuses while making sweeping gestures, brushing away strokes, and returning to diligently render a still image. A still image, yes, but with so much movement, it is as if not only her intent, but also her body is in the very body of her work.

Patricia follows and breaks convention at the junction between those two seemingly opposing forces, offering a perspective uniquely culled from her years as a keen observer of life around her and her own experiences through art. In her world, the mundane transforms into the extraordinary, infusing the everyday with unexpected twists.

This transformation is a testament to her multidisciplinary approach, which considers the relationship of material, process, and outcome. Her selection of mediums and methods, both used independently and combined, translates into questions and reflections on the diverse facets of being female in a world nuanced with challenges. Her work addresses the need for society to honor women fiercely for their many roles.

This dedication and her body of work is showcased in her upcoming largest museum solo exhibition at Burchfield Penney Art Center, SUNY Buffalo State University, from May 10 through October 27, 2024.