Ann-Marie began her art career with a BS in art education from R.I. College. She continued her postgraduate studies in painting, ceramics and printmaking at Rhode Island School of Design, Bennington College and Massachusetts School of Art and Design. After doing freelance illustration and operating a one-woman textile business (Softworks) she became a visual arts teacher (30 years) and department head (8 years) at the Wheeler School in Providence, RI for much of her professional life. While there she received the first Jason and Carly Siperstein Faculty Chair for teaching excellence. She also was an adjunct teacher in the Brown University MAT program for 10 years. After leaving teaching she returned to her studio practice full time and has won awards and exhibited her work in both group and solo shows in numerous galleries and museums throughout New England. She is an active member of several art groups including 19 on Paper, Seekonk Artist Network, and the Pawtucket Arts Collaborative. Her work has been published in Juniper Rag Magazine Vol. 2. She currently serves on the Seekonk Arts Council because of her life-long involvement in the arts.
Arboreal Embrace. 2025
Acrylics, Posca Marker on Yupo. 17″ x 21″
Artist Statement
One of my earliest memories is of taking a walk and entering a pine grove deep in a forest. My steps muffled, the sense of being enveloped by strong tall pines, the golden carpet of pine needles under my feet felt like what I now recognize was a sacred space. Both the cultivated and wild elements of nature are a source of comfort, awe, solace and inspiration to me. Nature is my muse. Observing both the subtle and the dramatic changes that occur daily in my environment of 12 pastoral acres gives birth to my use of a visual language of color relationships, textural surfaces, and morphing shapes and forms. These observations and the environmental forces that work upon it result in my exploring themes like growth, resiliency, memory, rebirth and the passage of time. Over the years I have developed a technique that involves painting different color gradations and textures on artist tape and then cutting and arranging meticulously cut shapes on various substrates or cyanotypes. Colored pencil, watercolor, Posca markers and graphite are used to enhance the imagery. My intent is to interpret and give visual form to the relationships I have with my natural surroundings that are deeply felt and transcend words.
Additional Info:
Artist’s Website: Ann-Marie Gillett
Instagram: @ambogillett
Part of Growing the NetWorks
This artist was selected by a past NetWorks Rhode Island participant as part of Growing the NetWorks — a 2025 exhibition presented by WaterFire Providence, at the WaterFire Arts Center, celebrating peer-nominated artists from across Rhode Island. Learn more at waterfire.org/growingthenetworks
Highlighting the work of selected artists who have played vital roles in shaping the contemporary visual arts community in Rhode Island. This collection of brief video portraits provides a window into the lives, practices, and cultural contributions of professional artists.
