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Upended, 2021
ARTIST: Linda Gritta, Born USA 1956 | Active Asheville, NC

One day, as a wide-eyed 7-year-old standing on tiptoe at the Art Institute of Chicago with her nose inches from Seurat's magnificent sea of tiny painted dots on Sunday Afternoon sur la Grande Jatte, Linda Gritta felt the first inkling that she would grow up to be an artist. Many years and several life chapters later, she decided to devote herself to that childhood wish in earnest and pursued a degree in studio art. That solid foundation and a steady momentum propelled her in many exciting directions. Gritta approaches each fresh canvas as an opportunity to excel and as a privilege to share her passion for painting with those around her. Gritta says, "I equate inspiration with desire ... that same desire I felt at seven years old is exactly what propels me into each painting. Simply put, my inspiration comes from the teeming life both around and within me. When the richness of reality mingles with imagination, it's magical." (Source: Bender Gallery)

Acrylic and oil on canvas
40 × 30 inches
Courtesy the Artist and Bender Gallery