Yvonne Claveloux

Bursts of Color

<em>HIDDEN HEARTS</em>, 36 X 48 X 1.5 inches, original mixed media on canvas.
HIDDEN HEARTS, 36 X 48 X 1.5 inches, original mixed media on canvas.

Connecticut native Yvonne Claveloux discusses how her travels have influenced her work, the ways in which she’s building upon the legacy of modernist artists, and why the world needs a little bit of color right now.


“I am only a painter; I don’t do any other mediums. I began painting accidently. I worked for a design magazine and was an interior designer for many years. I started painting—playing around and having fun—and my practice grew organically from there. I had paintings hanging in my home, and my friends began to ask for commissions. Soon, painting consumed me.

I live in Connecticut, but I also spend half the year in Miami. I grew up traveling around with my parents and it inspired my creativity. For example, in college, I majored in international business. As a part of this degree, I spent a semester in Italy studying fashion design. I also look back at the work of modern artists like Helen Frankenthaler, Elaine de Kooning, and Jackson Pollock, and I can’t help but learn from the foundation that they laid down. When I was a kid, my parents didn’t like modern art, so I was introduced to more classical works. I try to synthesize everything that I’ve been exposed to and create my own style.

I experiment with color and form, and I’m drawn to abstract art. I love infusing colorful, bold art into spaces because it makes for an exciting contrast between neutral palettes and pops of energy. When I’m sitting down to make a piece, I visualize the room that I would ideally place it in. I do also make art that is more monochrome, but I am more excited when painting colorful works. I play with making messy art, with drips and shapes. I have fun with the process. It’s just happy, modern, and fresh. I think I’m a combination of a boxwood tree and a palm tree—my Connecticut roots with my Miami beachy vibes. That summarizes my aesthetic very well. I think with everything that’s going on in the world, everyone needs a little color in their lives.”

Permission required for reprinting, reproducing, or other uses.

Noelani Kirschner is a former assistant editor for the Scholar.

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