Gillian Lahav
Gillian Lahav is an emerging, self-taught oil painter and gilder based in Toronto. She traded her desk for an easel at the end of 2022 and released her first collection of paintings in late summer 2023. Gillian has found exciting early success, exhibiting and joining private collections in Canada and the US, and receiving honourable mention in her first juried exhibit.
Gillian is a member of Workman Arts, a multidisciplinary arts organization that promotes a greater understanding of mental health and addiction issues through creation and presentation.
Gillian’s work is available on gillianlahav.com and on Instagram at @gillianlahav.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
My paintings are inspired by magic in the natural world, featuring slumbering animals and lush plants set in golden light.
Working out of an Edwardian home full of plants and sleepy house cats, I paint on locally made wood panels, layering oils and metal leaf over exposed wood grain to achieve organic scenes with lots of movement. A hiker and former archaeologist, I look to wild plants, antique treasures, and sleepy house cats for rich colours and compositions that speak to me.
My first series, Golden Hour, invites rest and indulgence, referencing feminine figures in Art Nouveau, the rich warmth of Klimt's Golden Phase, and the mysticism of Pre-Raphaelite dream scenes.
I hope this imagery will evoke for viewers the rich warmth and energy of golden hour, that fleeting time of day when the sun casts its most magical spell.
Gillian Lahav is an emerging, self-taught oil painter and gilder based in Toronto. She traded her desk for an easel at the end of 2022 and released her first collection of paintings in late summer 2023. Gillian has found exciting early success, exhibiting and joining private collections in Canada and the US, and receiving honourable mention in her first juried exhibit.
Gillian is a member of Workman Arts, a multidisciplinary arts organization that promotes a greater understanding of mental health and addiction issues through creation and presentation.
Gillian’s work is available on gillianlahav.com and on Instagram at @gillianlahav.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
My paintings are inspired by magic in the natural world, featuring slumbering animals and lush plants set in golden light.
Working out of an Edwardian home full of plants and sleepy house cats, I paint on locally made wood panels, layering oils and metal leaf over exposed wood grain to achieve organic scenes with lots of movement. A hiker and former archaeologist, I look to wild plants, antique treasures, and sleepy house cats for rich colours and compositions that speak to me.
My first series, Golden Hour, invites rest and indulgence, referencing feminine figures in Art Nouveau, the rich warmth of Klimt's Golden Phase, and the mysticism of Pre-Raphaelite dream scenes.
I hope this imagery will evoke for viewers the rich warmth and energy of golden hour, that fleeting time of day when the sun casts its most magical spell.
$4,800.00
Oil and metal leaf on wood panel.
24x48x2.25"
Giant water lilies float gently in the ever-changing waters of their lake home. They open their flowers adorned and unafraid, showing themselves to the setting sun and accepting its warmth in return.
The 2.25" deep sides of this original oil painting on custom wood panel are gilded with metal leaf and gleam from all angles. No frame required!
Honourable Mention
Praise for Water Nymphs from exhibit juror Ewa Chwojko-Srawley:
“This artwork captures the attention because of an unusual technique that combines oil and metal leaf on panel, resulting in a mesmerizing visual experience... This artwork seamlessly merges materials and techniques to craft a piece that combines precision with enchantment, leaving a lasting impression on viewers. It is a testament to simplicity, achieved through meticulous craftsmanship and creative imagination.”
$1,200.00
Oil and metal leaf on wood panel.
12x24x2.50"
Inky 'black star' calla lily blossoms and deep green foliage are set on a dusky golden backdrop in this alluring scene. In Roman mythology, calla lilies, or arums, were considered so beautiful that they were the envy of Venus, Goddess of Love.
The 2.25" deep sides of this original oil painting on custom wood panel are gilded with metal leaf and gleam from all angles. No frame required!
$2,400.00
Oil and metal leaf on wood panel.
24x24x2.25"
Delicate white calla lily blossoms show off their sculptural curves and sensual texture in this botanical piece that is rich with movement and light. In Roman mythology, calla lilies, or arums, were considered so beautiful that they were the envy of Venus, Goddess of Love.
The 2.25" deep sides of this original oil painting on custom wood panel are gilded with metal leaf and gleam from all angles. No frame required!
$2,400.00
Oil and metal leaf on wood panel.
24x24x2.25"
Let yourself sink into reverie as sweet as this black beauty. Born of the Moon, by day she worships the Sun.
The 2.25" deep sides of this original oil painting on custom wood panel are gilded with metal leaf and gleam from all angles. No frame required!
$600.00
Oil and metal leaf on wood panel.
12x12x2"
"Zula" means the total relaxation of the body and soul, almost in a sense of feeling high. No word is better for this little lioness, lost in sweet dreams at golden hour.
The 1.6" deep sides of this original oil painting on wood panel are gilded with metal leaf and gleam from all angles. No frame required!
$7,300.00
Oil and metal leaf on wood panel.
48x36x2.25"
Featuring a giant bird of paradise, this opulent botanical painting is rich in textures and pigments, with large leaves that add drama as they sway over a golden background. Inky-black blooms add the perfect hint of moody magic.
The 2.25" deep sides of this original oil painting on custom wood panel are gilded with metal leaf and gleam from all angles. No frame required!
$4,800.00
Oil and metal leaf on wood panel.
24x48x2.25"
Glossy black cats rumble with a love song of purrs as they doze among sun-kissed philodendrons in this statement panel, a unique shape picked from the Art Nouveau period. Any cat lover knows that a little magic lives in these familiars.
The 2.25" deep sides of this original oil painting on custom wood panel are gilded with metal leaf and gleam from all angles. No frame required!
Praise for Magic Hour from curator Liza Zhurkovskaya:
“The painting is very engaging and unique which is rare to see these days. The colours and intricate details are simply mesmerizing! I love how it evokes a sense of serenity and wonder every time I look at it. What I appreciate the most is the way this work captures the essence of a moment frozen in time.”
$2,400.00
Oil and metal leaf on wood panel.
24x24x2.25"
A lioness and golden serpent rest among swaying leaves as the sun sinks in the sky. A rich ochre background gives a warm, earthy feel to this slumbering pair.
The 2.25" deep sides of this original oil painting on custom wood panel are gilded with metal leaf and gleam from all angles. No frame required!
$4,500.00
Oil and metal leaf on wood panel.
36x36x2"
Golden serpents and sleeping lionesses make a statement among curves of cinnamon in this beautifully balanced circle.
The 1.7" deep sides of this original oil painting on wood panel are gilded with metal leaf and gleam from all angles. No frame required!
$1,200.00
Oil and metal leaf on wood panel.
12x24x2.25"
Broad green banana leaves part to reveal the sun held between them, invoking a lush, inviting feeling.
The 2.25" deep sides of this original oil painting on custom wood panel are gilded with metal leaf and gleam from all angles. No frame required!
$2,400.00
Oil and metal leaf on wood panel.
24x24x2.25"
Be mesmerized by the hypnotic sway of broad green banana leaves over a sun-drenched background, invoking a lush, tropical feeling.
The 2.25" deep sides of this original oil painting on custom wood panel are gilded with metal leaf and gleam from all angles. No frame required!
$5,500.00
Oil and metal leaf on wood panel.
36x36x2.25"
Be mesmerized by the hypnotic sway of broad green banana leaves over a sun-drenched background, invoking a lush, tropical feeling.
The 2.25" deep sides of this original oil painting on custom wood panel are gilded with metal leaf and gleam from all angles. No frame required!