Getting to know Gitte Maria Moller
Cape Town-born artist Gitte Maria Möller made the move from her hometown to New York, where she is living and working. We caught up with her to discuss her creative output, how her childhood has shaped her style and discover what she’s been up to since leaving South Africa.
Gitte is making waves in the New York art scene with her unique work that draws from religious painting, early video games, and online fan art. Her multi-disciplinary approach combines painterly techniques with modern themes and pop culture and has been recognised by the likes of i-D, ArtThrob, and Latitudes.
She strives to capture a sense of child-like wonder while reflecting on contemporary society through gentle yet well-fortified imagery. “I spend a lot of time alone, so I inevitably end up thinking about attachments when I make my work; to objects, people, and places,” says the artist.
Growing up in suburban Cape Town, which is geographically isolated, but experienced rapid globalisation during her childhood has significantly influenced her idiosyncratic practice. Objects of girlhood, the spiritual and the occult, as well as the relationship and tension between the natural and urban landscape, are recurring themes in her work.
Möller acknowledges that her inner monologue tends to be quite critical. Her work, which often blurs the line between traditional and digital art, helps her transform solitude into serenity. “My art teaches me how to do this by creating peaceful moments in my day and helping me enjoy my solitude. My paintings and drawings are my children and my friends,” she says.
Her latest exhibition Running away forever is currently live on Project Gallery, an artist-run online exhibition space established in 2020. It features work created during her move from Cape Town to New York City.
She’s also produced a special edition in collaboration with the platform, founded by American artist and curator Trinity Lester as a means to support artists while challenging traditional gallery models. The wistful piece, entitled Snow Day, is a striking mixed media artwork featuring hand-drawn elements in coloured pencil and silver printed snowflakes on a digital print.
Much of her recent pieces play with geometric and isometric perspectives to create evocative illusions of depth. The works allude to the impact of technology, which once promised boundless connectivity, but more often breeds feelings of isolation.
As one might expect, the ever-meticulous artist has a slew of upcoming exhibitions in New York City. These include the There She Lay group showing at The Westbeth Center for the Arts, curated by Claire Felonis, and the second edition of IRL Gallery’s annual summer group show, Fritto Misto.
Words by Neil Büchner Jr for Letterhead