Artist spotlight : Diana Reyes
Diana Reyes is a visual artist based in New York. Born in Colombia, she began her artistic studies at a young age in her home country. After moving to the United States, she continued her education by attending various art schools, where she explored different techniques and expanded her artistic knowledge.
Alongside formal training, Diana pursued a strong self-directed practice, developing her own artistic voice through continuous exploration and experimentation. Her work is deeply influenced by personal experiences, with color playing a central role in many of her pieces.
Working primarily with oil, acrylic, and charcoal on canvas, each artwork is unique and reflects her imagination and expressive approach. Through abstract art, Diana seeks to create distinctive paintings that invite the viewer to step into an abstract world beyond realism.
Her work has been exhibited at the Lynn Museum & Arts Center in Boston, where it was on view for approximately four months in 2025.
Artist: Diana Reyes
Inspiration & Style
What initially inspired you to become an artist, and how did you develop your unique artistic style?
I have been painting all my life. From my earliest childhood memories, creating art has felt natural, I didn’t choose to be an artist; art chose me. My inspiration comes from within, fueled by my imagination, my love for painting, and the joy of creating. My artistic style developed gradually and naturally. Early on, my work often included abstract forms, even before I understood what abstract art was. Despite advice to paint realistically, I followed my intuition and embraced abstraction. Later, studying art in Colombia, I recognized myself as an abstract artist, which allowed me to refine and fully embrace my personal style.
Creative Process
Do you have any rituals or routines that help you get into a creative mindset when starting a new project?
One of my routines is placing my works in progress in front of my bed so I can see them constantly. When an idea comes to mind, I can immediately start painting. I often work on several paintings at the same time, and I love waking up and seeing my paintings in progress as the first thing in the morning. Some of my works come to me like photographs in my mind, and I simply translate these mental images onto the canvas to share them with the world. I have also realized that some of my most beautiful paintings are created during moments of great happiness in my life.
Artistic Influences
How do you balance historical or artistic influences with your personal style, and how do these influences manifest in your work today?
One of my greatest artistic influences has been Salvador Dalí. His imaginative and surreal work inspires me to keep creating and reminds me that anything is possible. While I admire and learn from his bold use of imagination and visual storytelling, I balance these influences with my own abstract and personal style. I translate inspiration into my own language, allowing my life experiences, emotions, and inner visions to shape each piece uniquely.
Giraffa
Year: 2023
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Size: 18 x 36 inches
by Diana Reyes
Emotion & Expression
How do you use your art to evoke emotions, and what role does emotion play in your creative process?
Emotion is at the heart of my creative process. Some of my most luminous paintings, like Venus de Milo, were born in moments of pure happiness, while other works, such as Hidden Wars, emerged from the struggles of living with endometriosis. I let these feelings guide my hand, translating joy, pain, and everything in between into color, form, and abstraction. Through this process, I invite viewers to feel the inner landscapes of my experiences and connect with the emotions that shape my world.
Exhibiting Work
How do you feel about exhibiting your artwork with The Holy Art Gallery, and what does this opportunity mean to you?
Exhibiting my art remains one of the happiest moments of my life. Seeing people connect with my paintings is a feeling words cannot capture. Exhibiting with The Holy Art Gallery is incredibly meaningful, it feels like a dream come true. It will allow me to share my life and experiences on canvas, gain more visibility for my art, and create moments of joy that I will always treasure. This is more than just an opportunity; I feel it will be one of the most significant experiences in helping me share my art with the world.
Future Goals
What are your long-term goals and aspirations as an artist, and how do you plan to achieve them?
My long-term goal is to become a recognized and influential contemporary abstract artist, with my name, Diana Reyes, known around the world. I imagine my paintings displayed in museums and galleries, inviting viewers to step into the worlds of color, emotion, and imagination that I create. I plan to achieve this by continually exploring and refining my work, sharing it through exhibitions, and connecting deeply with audiences who feel the stories behind my art. My greatest dream is to one day see my paintings alongside the masterpieces of Salvador Dalí, as part of the conversation of visionary and imaginative art.
Audience Connection
What do you hope viewers take away from experiencing your art, and how do you aim to connect with them on an emotional or intellectual level?
I hope viewers leave my work feeling a connection to the emotions and experiences that inspired it. Through color, form, and abstraction, I aim to create a space where imagination and feeling intersect, inviting each person to interpret the work in their own way. My goal is to evoke curiosity, empathy, and reflection, allowing viewers to experience both the joy and struggles that shape my life and my art. I want each piece to feel like a conversation—one that resonates emotionally and intellectually, bridging the space between my world and theirs.
