Aleta Pippin in her studioPainter and Pippin Contemporary founder Aleta Pippin has followed an artistic journey of continuous exploration through various media, styles, and color palettes. From luminescent oil paintings to acrylic abstract landscapes, from poured paintings to LED lit panels, Pippin’s constant experimentation keeps her work fresh and exciting to viewers and collectors. For this show however, Pippin is revisiting her original passion for creating vibrant, abstract oil paintings, and plans to bring that energy and emotional resonance into her future artistic endeavors.

Back to the Future: The Art of Exploration opens September 23rd with an artist reception on Friday, September 25th from 5-7pm. Vivid blues, glowing yellows, and joyful pinks fill the gallery with light and evoke a feeling of happiness from the viewer. Some paintings take on a more spiritual and thought-provoking theme, while others, such as Caribbean Play, are simply about Pippin’s use of color and the emotions each tone can trigger.

Aleta Pippin Paintings at Pippin Contemporary

Caribbean Play (left) and Magical Mystery Tour hanging at Pippin Contemporary.

“The reason I continue to pursue color and light in my work is because I believe it has a positive impact on people,” explains Pippin. “My goal is to create art that when people look at it, it joyfully inspires them.”

Bloom Where You're Planted by Aleta Pippin at Pippin Contemporary

Bloom Where You’re Planted, 16×16″ oil/panel.

Pieces like Reaching Deeper, Garden’s Gate, and Bloom Where You’re Planted still burst with color, but the titles allow for a deeper perspective. According to Pippin, these paintings are about connecting with your inner self and looking past the obvious.

Bloom Where You’re Planted is all about being present where you are in life,” explains Pippin. “People are always saying, when I do this or when I get that – then I’ll be happy. But all those things are outside of ourselves. All of us can make the best of where we are at any given moment.”     

Garden’s Gate takes on a similar theme of looking beneath the obvious. It was inspired by the story of The Secret Garden, a book Pippin loved as a child and continues to read often as an adult.

Garden's Gate painting by Santa Fe artist, Aleta Pippin

Garden’s Gate, 40×40″ oil/canvas.

“I think the first time I read The Secret Garden may have been in the fourth grade. I loved it then. On the surface, it’s a “feel-good” story. However after reading it several times as an adult, I’ve discovered many nuggets that can be applied to real life challenges.”

Once Again by Aleta Pippin at Pippin Contemporary

Once Again, oil on canvas, 16″ x 16″

Pippin is constantly making new discoveries through her art that lead to exciting career opportunities as well as deeper self-exploration. With painting as her third career, the journey is never ending as new passions are pursued. Once Again is a small panel bursting with energy that speaks to this theme.

“You always have new opportunities to show yourself. For me, being an artist is a life journey as well as an interior journey.”

Join us Friday, September 25th from 5-7pm for Aleta Pippin’s opening reception for Back to the Future: The Art of Exploration.

Can’t make it to Santa Fe for the opening? View new paintings in the online show catalog.