Andrea Gianchiglia: Rooted & Rising

Calming the Chaos, 2022, Oil, 30 x 30 inches

Artist’s Statement
In Rooted & Rising, Andrea Gianchiglia explores the layered experience of motherhood, mentorship, and the instinct to both protect and release. Through animal portraiture, sweeping seascapes, and collaborative abstract foundations created with her children, this body of work reflects the balance between grounding and growth.

Animals such as cows and horses appear not only as subjects, but as metaphors for nurture, strength, and quiet resilience. Expansive landscapes and rising tides echo the emotional rhythms of guiding others — the calm, the turbulence, and the steady light that remains. Select pieces feature intuitive backgrounds painted by her children, layered with Andrea’s refined animal forms, symbolizing generational imprint and shared becoming.
Rooted in family and fueled by the wildness of nature, these works speak to the sacred act of holding space while encouraging flight — a philosophy that extends from Andrea’s role as a mother into her work as an educator and mentor.

Artist’s Bio
Andrea Gianchiglia is a full-time artist and instructor based in Califon, New Jersey. A graduate of the Hartford Art School with a BFA in illustration and a minor in art history, she specializes in animal portraiture while working across pastel and oil. She is a member of the Society of Animal Artists and the Pastel Society of America. Through her teaching platform, Create & Inspire, Andrea guides artists of all levels to build confidence, embrace their voice, and pursue their creative path with intention. Whether in the studio or the classroom, she continues to remind her students: when in doubt, add purple.