Shanel Gaskin, also known by her moniker “NELXART,” is a Houston-born visual artist who brings her inner world to life through imaginative paintings. Her first solo exhibition, “EVERYTHING IN COLOR” features more than 30 artworks that draw from popular culture, fashion, and her personal experience.Through art, Nel expresses her confidence and evolving sense of security. The mostly female figures she paints shareho fostered her creative spirit at an early age. The exhibition includes a Black Madonna-style painting from the 1960s by Salsman Jr. in an homage to his foundational influence on Nel’s life and artistic journey.The exhibition also marks Nel’s foray into sculpture with the debut of “SUPER COOL,” a series that centers the artist as a character in her creative universe. Featured in handheld and lifesize forms, the figure is a portrait of the artist flushed with fuchsia-colored skin and dressed in a sleek black two-piece suit that is accessorized by a bright yellow hat and a multicolored mouth.

The controlled use of bold colors is a signature aspect of Nel’s artistic approach. She leans into the positive psychological impact that color has on our well-being. It’s been scientifically proven that colorful art and images trigger the release of dopamine, a bodily compound that activates feelings of pleasure, soothes anxiety, and curbs negative emotions. Nel’s work encourages play and reminds us that playfulness need not be abandoned with adulthood but embraced for a lifetime of joy and optimism experience.

The exhibition includes a Black Madonna-style painting from the 1960s by Salsman Jr. in an homage to his foundational influence on Nel’s life and artistic journey.The exhibition also marks Nel’s foray into sculpture with the debut of “SUPER COOL,” a series that centers the artist as a character in her creative universe. Featured in handheld and lifesize forms, the figure is a portrait of the artist flushed with fuchsia-colored skin and dressed in a sleek black two-piece suit that is accessorized by a bright yellow hat and a multicolored mouth.The controlled use of bold colors is a signature aspect of Nel’s artistic approach. She leans into the positive psychological impact that color has on our well-being. It’s been scientifically proven that colorful art and images trigger the release of dopamine, a bodily compound that activates feelings of pleasure, soothes anxiety, and curbs negative emotions. Nel’s work encourages play and reminds us that playfulness need not be abandoned with adulthood but embraced for a lifetime of joy and optimism.
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