Gold Dress

My focus on figurative painting deals necessarily with the personal, with the intimate textures of memory, loss, and joy in my life. At the same time, I am leaning towards clean forms and simple compositions, which facilitates my larger goal of sparking a similar sense of nostalgia and reflection for my audience. By painting these close and sentimental memories, I can relive the moment, and ultimately reaffirm my love for those in my life.

Alli van Gruen is a contemporary Canadian artist with a multifaceted mixed portfolio. Alli received a fine art diploma from  the Ontario College of Art, and was among the few students selected to study for her final year at their Florence, Italy campus. Though she is content to play with multiple subject matters in her art practice, van Gruen is happiest when she is painting the figure. Van Gruen strives to paint effortlessly with colour, texture, and intricate brushwork.

Alli lives in Whistler, BC with her family and dog Bea. Her work can be found in Whistler and in many private collections in Canada and Europe.