Brenda Hope Zappitell: A Journey of Gestures

In continuing the tradition of the All Florida Juried Competition and Exhibition and showcasing artists living and working in Florida, the Boca Raton Museum of Art is proud to present a selection of paintings by Brenda Hope Zappitell.

Zappitell credits the Boca Raton Museum Art School as an indispensable training ground during her early years, which helped catapult her to national recognition that she enjoys today. Those early years included representational work and collage. However, she soon found imagery to be a crutch and was moved to employ the gestural freedom of Abstract Expressionism.

“My paintings emerge from the emotion I feel in the moment my brush touches a blank surface," said Zappitell. "I am a very physical and spontaneous painter. Moving back and forth with decisive brush strokes and dynamic gestures, I work rapidly to capture that ephemeral feeling in tangible form.” The results are large panel compositions with layers of vigorous marks that are innumerable and subtle.

In addition to painting, Zappitell is an accomplished writer and instructor, regularly contributing to Professional Artist Magazine and holding private workshops in Florida and New Mexico.