Despite her formative years unfolding in the academic realm, she has consistently identified herself with the abstract expressionist movement. Following in the footsteps of her predecessors, she underscores the importance of the process to prevent theoretical excess. Therefore, Meunié’s method is defined by spontaneity and instinct.
How would you describe your artistic style, and how has it evolved?
I started my career as a painter, following my art studies in Mallorca and Barcelona at „Escola Massana,“ Art and Design Center. Although my formative years took place in the academic field, I studied figurative drawing before delving into Abstract Expressionism, specifically on a large scale.
Install shot of the artwork by Gabriela Meunié at Gallery Casa Estudio Granados, Menorca. Photo: Daniel Schäfer 
Install shot of the artwork by Gabriela Meunié at Gallery Casa Estudio Granados, Menorca. Photo: Daniel Schäfer 
Install shot of the artwork by Gabriela Meunié at Gallery Casa Estudio Granados, Menorca. Photo: Daniel Schäfer
What role do emotions play? Do personal experiences influence your work?
I believe an artist’s dedication to their craft should remain constant and consistent. Being a mother has helped me in my artistic journey. While working, I don’t allow myself to waste any time. Every gesture I make is deliberate and full of energy. I believe in being fully present.
Can you tell us more about your creative process?
I adhere to the investigation of new artistic techniques. I believe that in painting, modifying the technique, inevitably leads to modifying the form, like when Helen Frankenthaler stopped using the coating that prevents paint from penetrating the canvas. In my work, I like to emphasize the process to avoid theoretical excess.
What materials and techniques do you prefer, and why
I create my colors based on pure pigments, acrylic binders, and acrylic colors. This gives me the option of thickening or diluting the paint, which is very important for the way I work. For me, each color has its soul. On the canvas, the materials express themselves in an interplay of opacities, densities, spots, and splashes that constitute my vocabulary. I apply it with thick brushstrokes and build the canvas through layers.
How does your environment influence you?
I need beauty in my environment and my personal life.
Could you share your perspective on life in Mallorca?
In my childhood in Mallorca, I grew up surrounded and influenced by artists from the island, not only in the beauty of their artworks but also in their way of living in the 80s in Palma de Mallorca. I could cite the Mallorquin artist Miquel Barcelo and the Austrian painter Gottfried Mairwöger in abstract painting. I have lived in France for more than 10 years. My family and friends live in Mallorca, so I travel often to the island. The island has a special energy for me; the Mediterranean Sea and the love of my people are very important in my life.
Do you already have any plans for 2024?
My husband and I are renovating a large house in a town in France where my new studio will be. I’m working on international exhibitions.
Gabriela Meunié – www.gabrielameunie.fr, www.instagram.com/gabrielameunie.newwork/
