Taste the sweet life with Miami artist Gianna D
Dollops of frosting are acts of kindness in Touch from Above
A famous movie character once said that life is like a box of chocolates. To Gianna D, the Miami artist behind Touch from Above at Miami International Airport, our lives can be more like swirls of frosting.
On display near gate D31 through July 2021, Touch from Above is a series inspired by random acts of kindness. The new exhibition features 11 thickly layered, labor-intensive, abstract paintings by the artist, each brimming with vibrant swirls of color. The works’ rippled sculptural elements resemble swirls of decorated baked goods, as if they were overhead shots of the world where each dollop of frosting represents an act of kindness.
Gianna’s artwork and materials are inspired by everyday life. A running theme throughout her work is repetition: the idea that one thing/one mark/one daily action may not seem like much alone, but together they form the landscape of our lives.
Once I was having a really rough day, and someone surprised me with a random act of kindness. All of a sudden, my mood and outlook changed so completely. I kept replaying this experience in my mind, and I tried to figure out how I could express that feeling visually. To me, it would look like something sweet, like frosting.
Gianna D is a mixed-media artist born and raised in Miami. She earned her Master of Fine Arts at Florida International University, where she previously obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts. Gianna was a Florida International University Ratcliffe Art + Design Incubator Fellow, participating artist for Vizcaya Museum and Gardens CAP Lab, first place winner of The Women in Visual Arts, Inc. Velia Sweet Scholarship, and an ArtTable Mentee. Gianna’s work has been exhibited locally, nationally and internationally, in both group and solo exhibitions, art fairs and in public places.
About MIA Galleries
MIA Galleries is Miami International Airport’s Arts & Exhibition program. Founded in 1996 and organized by the Miami-Dade Aviation Department’s Division of Fine Arts & Cultural Affairs, MIA Galleries seeks to enhance the passenger experience by creating a visually engaging environment that is contemporary, thought-provoking and reflective of our South Florida community.