What Lies Between Us : Caroline Gates Solo Exhibition
Opening Reception Friday, February 9th, 6:00 – 8:00pm
A furtive glances, a fleeting sigh, a soft touch–all betray something shimmering in the air between people, something that has been felt before and will be felt again. The paintings in “What Lies Between Us” dwell in these charged moments, exploring the nuance of human connection. This series depicts relationships from a woman’s perspective, revealing the complexities of longing, vulnerability, and power.
Psychological space lies at the heart of these works. Tension between figures is heightened through minimalist settings, and external elements appear in support of the emotional narrative. Muted tones suggest silence, occasionally interrupted by a passionate stroke of red. The layered surfaces of oil glazes and impasto marks balance precision and looseness, mirroring how relationships oscillate between clarity and uncertainty.
Each painting hovers on the cusp of a moment, alive with the possibility of closeness or retreat. They invite the viewer to linger on that threshold, feeling the fragile promise of connection pulsing between the figures.
Artist bio:
Caroline Gates is an award-winning figurative painter whose work in oil paint and soft pastel explores human connection, agency, and longing. Winner of the 2025 Founders Award at the Seven Bridges Foundation, her psychologically charged, narrative paintings have been shown at VillageOne Art, Aplomb Gallery, Highline Nine Galleries, C&B Reichert Gallerie, and Neighbor Gallery, which hosted her first NYC solo exhibition in 2023. Inspired by Edward Hopper and Bo Bartlett, Gates creates cinematic paintings that capture fleeting moments—quiet yet emotionally electric. She invites viewers to imagine the story beyond the frame.
Gates received her MFA at the New York Academy of Art in 2021. She is currently based out of River Rock Art Studio and Gallery in Greenville, SC, where she paints and teaches classes and workshops. She takes commissions and offers private and group classes on a limited basis.
