Anyone acquainted with Kristy Goggio’s work can spot her paintings from a distance. Her signature is the lush flora and fauna combined with female figures.
For more than 25 years, images of women and birds have been represented in Goggio’s works. During the past five years she has been focused on the painted lady. As described by Goggio, “She is my portrayal of Mother Nature; personified.” “I depict her sentiment as a nurturer, a giver and the bounty she provides.” Goggio paints the painted lady in scenes where her en gratismanner is hardly unnoticed, painted poetry, surrounded by the loveliest of life’s offerings; animals, birds, bees, butterflies and dragonflies provide her with the flowers, greenery, berries and buds. Mother Nature mingles simplicity with complexity, where it’s true that these creations depend on each other. Goggio continued, “The woman I paint isn’t a woman per se, but rather she’s a concept representing benevolence to the core.”
Simply stated, Kristy paints beauty. For centuries, a beautiful woman, birds, flowers and more have been imagery used by painters, sculptures, poets and song writers to describe beauty. Goggio’s painted lady goes beyond the surface to tell a story and portray an emotion. Her paintings show a quiet confidence, peacefulness and harmony while visually describing the exquisiteness of nurturing.
As a child Goggio was wowed by nature and her love of nature continued throughout her life. It makes sense that nature is the subject of her work. On the topic Goggio said, “The workings of nature are nothing short of profound.” “Whether one considers the work of ‘Mother Nature’ to be spiritual, religious or scientific, the miracle of it inspires me.”
Goggio feels it was her destiny to create her Mother Nature painted lady. She looked back to her saved sketch books from college and discovered drawings of birds, women, flowers and dragonflies. They were waiting for her to develop them into outstanding, inspirited paintings.
As described by Goggio, “My objective when painting Mother Nature is to conjure sentiment, not to be confused with personality. Since she is a notion, her generic features are consistent and deliberate. A few characteristics I reliably depict in my description of her are a youthfulness (eternally reborn), her delicate frame reflects fragility, yet her shoulders are strong and sound. Her elongated neck is observant, her eyes are rarely revealed; elusive mysteriousness. Her exposed lips, a sober smile of sorts, doesn’t give much away, leaving the viewer with their own interpretation.
Lately, more and more honeybees, dragonflies and butterflies are becoming a part of Goggio’s painted scenes, due to her increased concern for the state of our environment. Goggio is very aware of the struggles of honeybees and their declining state, and is an amateur bee keeper. Though the honeybee has taken center stage in the public’s awareness, butterflies, dragonflies and many pollinators are also declining at alarming rates. Mother Nature’s bounty is threatened. Goggio values nature and that can easily be seen in her paintings.
Goggio received a Bachelors in Fine Are from Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) in 1988, and has pursued various art related careers. In 1990, and the following decades, she owned and operated a custom frame shop and gallery (Arc East Art & Frames) located in Milwaukee’s swanky Third Ward. In the 90’s the Third Ward was still in its “emerging” days. Goggio along other retailers worked diligently with the city through associations and committees to develop the neighborhood into the chic destination that it is today.
When Goggio owned the frame shop she was introduced to the world of commercial art. For 14 years, she worked with one of the largest international publishing companies in the world producing imagery specific to home décor. Just enter “Kristy Goggio” into Google search and you will find her kitchen décor. Goggio’s images were placed on everything from posters to wallpaper to area rugs, coffee mugs, toaster covers, and more. Although no longer actively producing commercial art, you can find Goggio’s art in stores, such as Kohl’s Department Stores. Goggio created hundreds of images during this time (you may own one and not even know it)! Goggio described the published work as her day job. Her fine art is her love, and is sold at the River’s End Gallery since 2006, and other galleries throughout the United States. Come and see an outstanding display of Goggio’s paintings at River’s End Gallery.