By: Anastasia Nazarko
In a rare and unique exhibition, German-born U.S.-based artist Gabriela Welte-Moustardas portrays elements of daily Albanian lifeנwhich may otherwise go unnoticed by the casual observerةn vivid watercolors which distill the beauty of a moment in time and place. It is not often that foreign artists choose the simplicity of Albanian life as their subject-matter, yet Gabriela’s work manages to bring out the worthiness of such a subject. Though now in her 50s, Gabrielaطhose paintings are sold throughout the U.S. and have made their way into corners of Europe as wellءttributes her passion for finding beauty in simplicity to her childhood.
“I always loved creating things,” she explains. “At Christmastime, my mother and I would make ornaments out of natural materials like acorns, wood and straw. When I looked at things I was always struck by colors, light, shadow and textures.”
By the time she reached university, Gabriela was ready to hone her art skills professionally. Torn between the opportunity to attend the art academy in D
