Gabrielle Tolliver, a New Orleans native, has been surrounded by different art forms her entire life. Through the cultural influence of the city, Tolliver has used visual arts to explore the themes of the human form, emotion, and their relationship. Basing her work primarily in abstraction, Tolliver’s compositions implement the use of audacious color palettes and automatic drawings. By combining intuitive creation and strategic arrangement, the compositions are able to display the beauty of chaotic forms and their interactions.

Tolliver’s works, based primarily in acrylic paint, watercolor, and Chinese ink, are constructed in layers. Each wash is allowed to interact freely with its material and is adjusted through a meditative process of spontaneity. This arrangement of various layers invites the viewer to dive deeply into each piece and reflect on the suggested themes.