Art Bites

About Gallery Swarm Mission Established in 2010 by noted master painter Samuel Gillis, Gallery Swarm is unique in form and function. Located in an alternative gallery space in a 6,000 square foot facility with vaulted ceilings and exposed brick, it shares its home with high-end rug store Olson Rug. Gallery Swarm has but one guiding principle: anyone can be an artist. Founder Sam Gillis and his "swarm" have long believed that many an artistic genius has had his ember of creativity put out before it can blaze in all its glory because of judgment. From supporting budding artists in their first creative attempts to helping emerging artists build their portfolio and getting them ready for their first shows to exhibiting master painters at the height of their careers, Gallery Swarm seeks to give artists in all phases a refuge to call home. Like chameleon artist Gillis, who is known for his ability to paint with exquisite mastery i...

  Her work has been described as controlled chaos. To Ms. Neistat the most important areas of her canvases are those without paint: “The raw canvas is what gives the piece movement and flow.” Amanda’s “moving colors” allows the observer to connect in their own way to a piece. Her work is best experienced without opinion and an open mind. Amanda’s creative process is deceptively simple. She chooses different color paints then, using a pallet knife, spreads them across her canvass. The pallet knife is her tool to invent different patterns and textures. As the colors inspire her, the piece comes alive and eventually evolves into a completed work. The result is a moving, thought-provoking experience for the observer. Amanda was born in Miami but grew up in the Chicago area. She attended school at Hofstra University and received a Bachelors of Fine Arts with a focus in painting and drawing.  Major influences on Amanda’s work are Kandinsky and Mark Rothko. Their ...