About — Genevieve May

Genevieve May’s art education stems from a classical background, yet she also finds herself being drawn to themes that are both abstract and glamorous, maintaining a contemporary flair. She is not defined by one technique or medium, but rather by her exploration in many art forms. Coming from a diverse creative background within her family, including painters, authors, filmmakers, fashion designers, sculptors and musicians, she embraces different mediums to convey the human experience.

Raised in a renovated tobacco barn in a rural town outside of Northampton, Massachusetts, Genevieve May was born the daughter of accomplished artists and authors, Dennis Nolan and Lauren Mills. Genevieve remembers many formative trips to museums, art classes, and gallery openings, but did not fully appreciate and embrace her art enriched background until she was in her early twenties.

As a child she studied classical drawing and painting with her parents and later studied at Lyme Academy with classical painter Hollis Dunlap. In addition, she studied watercolor and fresco painting with Jeremiah Patterson and Fred Wessel in both France and Italy, and at the age of 14, studied egg tempera under Wessel at the Hartford Art School. In 2014, Genevieve attended the Bay Area Atelier studying under Graydon Parrish, Dan Thompson, Steven Early, and Michael Grimaldi. Art classes ranged from color theory to studying cadavers at Stanford labs in CA. In 2015, Genevieve graduated from the Hartford Art School at the University of Hartford having studied with her father, as well as Doug Andersen, and Bill Thomson, and then moved to NYC to work as a painter for Jeff Koons. During this time, she studied privately under renowned artist, Brad Kunkle, whom she considers to be her mentor. At the age of 27 she had her first solo show “Painting Strangers” which focused on portraits of the local community of Hartford, CT. In the following years five of Genevieve’s works were published in the 2017, 2018, and 2019 Artist Renewal Catalog (ARC).

Genevieve’s technique displays a wide range of styles. She enjoys combining abstract atmospheric scenes with realistic portraiture. She considers herself an allegorical painter, striving to paint matters of political, social, and environmental concerns in her work, while aiming to achieve a dream-like hypnosis over her viewers.

The consistent utilization of snake skin can be seen throughout Genevieve’s work. She currently owns two boa constrictors and one carpet python, from which she continually draws inspiration, both visually and metaphorically. As well as being a painter, she is also a professional belly dancer, performing with her three snakes. Her love for these reptiles, along with Middle Eastern belly dance can be seen laced throughout her paintings. Genevieve’s goal as a painter is to evoke emotions often shielded and cast aside, while simultaneously telling the stories of those who need to be heard. Genevieve is currently showing her work at Abend Gallery,Robert Lange Studios and Michelson Gallery.

Gallery exhibitions:

Solo Show, Painting Strangers, EBK Gallery 2017

Group Show, Mini Show, Abend Gallery 2020

Group Show, Process, Robert Lange Studios 2020

Group Show, Figurative Works, Abend Gallery 2021

Solo Show, TBA, Abend Gallery 2021

Group Show, Figurative Works, Michelson Gallery 2021

Awards:

Amaranthine, Artist Renewal Center catalog, 2017

Alex, Lydian Heart, Ondine, Artist Renewal Center catalog, 2018

Rise Up, Artist Renewal Center, 2019

Pray For Love, Artist Renewal Center, 2020