Artwork / 2021

skeleton reading a book, a funny play on “ride or die” meme for librarians and people who love books prairie dogs painting by wildlife artist Gwenn Seemel rainbow serpentdove painting, expressive artist Gwenn Seemel Old Faithful geyser painting by landscape artist Gwenn Seemel custom portrait of a grandmother, mom, and baby donkey painting, expressive artist Gwenn Seemel Ella Jaroszewicz painting artwork tiger swimming underwater wearing a glass globe helmet surrounded by a seaweed jungle and fish, surreal painting flying firefly artwork by bug artist Gwenn Seemel mom and son portrait painting by independent artist Gwenn Seemel Devil’s Tower with humpback whales surreal artwork by painter Gwenn Seemel beautiful woman painted on a tondo by artist Gwenn Seemel Multnomah Falls painting by Gwenn Seemel ladybugs on a daisy artwork for Patreon patron Bryce Canyon artwork by Gwenn Seemel custom pet portrait of a poodle and a King Charles spaniel by contemporary artist Gwenn Seemel Yellowstone bison art by French-American painter Gwenn Seemel German shepherd looking like she did something naughty chipmunk at Craters of the Moon in Idaho, illustration by Gwenn Seemel pink geranium floral art, expressive design art lizard in Devil’s Garden, Utah, illustration by painter Gwenn Seemel squirrel monkey with capybara art for sale Badlands National Park landscape artwork by Gwenn Seemel bear cub making a heart with her paws, painted in acrylic on paper portrait of my parents portrait of boys playing at being soldiers

This year has been all about healing. The commissions and personal paintings shown in this gallery are certainly part of that, as are the silly GIFs I’ve been making out of my own artwork and the brand new series that I am live painting on Twitch.

Gwenn Seemel, Venture Café Philadelphia and Princeton Public Library
Venture Café Philadelphia and Princeton Public Library

Then, too, there’s the fact that I exhibited my work in a public library for the first time since my art was censored by that institution in 2019. I was pleased to do a couple of talks to celebrate the show at the Princeton Public Library—this one about my queer identity and this one addressing the way censorship plays out for artists—along with a motivational presentation about art and money for Venture Café Philadelphia.

Gwenn Seemel’s art on the cover of Larry R Jacobs’ book, Democracy under Fire, published by Oxford University Press
screenshot of Oxford University Press

What’s more, some of my most negative art—a flaming portrait of Trump from 2017—has had a hugely positive outcome: it will be the cover of Larry Jacobs’ Democracy under Fire! This is especially gratifying, considering the personal circumstances around the making of painting.

Gwenn Seemel in The Press of Atlantic City
screenshot of the The Press of Atlantic City

And, finally, this year my work has earned write-ups in The Press of Atlantic City, South Jersey Magazine, and the Asbury Park Press for Lifesavers Fan Art, a project that I keep hoping will become obsolete in the near future.