About / Profile
Statement
Painting, for me, is an act of slowing down—distilling presence and uncovering meaning hidden in plain sight. Each piece develops through sustained sessions from life, revisiting the subject to capture its shifting states. This approach continues to evolve, driven by a long-standing impulse to translate perception into form.
That impulse began in childhood as I sought to portray an honest likeness that captures both the truth and beauty of the people closest to me. Portraiture remains the touchstone of my practice; it extends to every theme, as I search for an essence beyond surface appearance. I’m drawn to subjects with inherent tension, and by staying present to reality, I strive to suspend time and reveal a hint of transcendence in the everyday.
This work is rooted in the lineage of representational painting—work that has etched itself into my own mind and heart long after a first encounter. In an age of rapid change and constant stimulation, I aspire to create pieces that invite reflection—and linger.
Biography
Educated at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, I have spent three decades refining my painting practice while continuing to seek new challenges and explorations.
Alongside studio work, from 2004 to 2010, I served as a Senior Lecturer, teaching drawing and painting. During a semester-long sabbatical, I painted a series of portraits with the generous collaboration of fellow faculty members. Later, I led professional development workshops for animation artists.
I also contributed hand-painted background art to animated films, two of which were screened at the Venice Biennale and at Cannes.
Training and researching at the Legion of Honor Museum in San Francisco helped enrich my ability to articulate my responses to art.
About / Colophon
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Supportive Imagery
All paintings by Geraldine Kovats, except Joris de Caulerij, by Rembrandt.
Two Glasses, 2003, Oil on linen, ca. 9 × 12 in., Mexico
Sandals, 2003, Oil on canvas, 9 × 12 in., Mexico
Surf, 2020, Oil on canvas, 12 × 24 in.
Cemetery, 2004, Oil on linen, 24 × 32 in.
Background Art for Imitation of Life, 2013, Watercolor and Gouache on board
Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn, Joris de Caulerij, 1632, Oil on canvas, 40½ × 33¼ in.