About Me
I am Gabriel Ceslov, an American artist based in New York, with roots in Romania. My journey in art has taken me from studying classical painting and drawing at esteemed institutions like the Art Students League of New York, the Grand Central Academy of Art, and the New York Academy of Art, to painting after the great masters at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I’ve had the privilege of studying Plein-Air Painting in the breathtaking landscapes of Amalfi, Italy, and exploring atmospheric painting with John Phillip Osborne at the Ridgewood Art Institute. More recently, I’ve continued my artistic exploration in the vibrant city of Amsterdam.
My work has been exhibited in numerous gallery solo and group exhibitions, as well as in private collections. I have recently been represented by Persues Gallery in Soho New York.
There is a profound spiritual connection in my paintings, a dialogue with the universe, nature, animals, and humanity. For me, the challenge of the blank canvas is more than a technical task—it is a call to creative freedom and emotional expression.”
In addition to my life as a painter, I’m also a Creative Director and an award-winning User Experience Designer, Researcher, Architect, and Educator. My career in design has spanned over two decades, during which I’ve had the honor of working with major firms like JP Morgan Chase Bank and IBM, and of mentoring the next generation of creatives. Balancing these two worlds—art and design—has enriched my understanding of both, allowing me to bring a unique perspective to each canvas, whether digital or physical.
My Vision
I have been drawing and painting since I was a child. When I reached my early twenties I put all my brushes away, and stopped painting. I went back to school and studied Graphic Design, and for the next 25 years I have worked as a Graphic Designer/Art and Creative Director at major firms such as Business Week Magazine, Time Warner, and others. Later I opened my own design firm, and I have won numerous awards for design excellence. I have become very passionate about Design and Typography. However, at one point, I realized that something very important was missing in my life. I realized that I needed to go back to my Drawing and Painting.
When I paint time stops for a short moment to catch its breath. I live in the NOW, there is no past, no future. I listen to the silence of Nature, I become part of it. I am no longer an outsider, I no longer watch the dance, I am the dance, and Life is the dancer.