Ann Gardner @Decatur Dermatology
"Painting is how I map the geography of an imagined world.
Through fluid movements and vibrant acrylic layers, I build complex, textured spaces where the unexpected can happen. The introduction of gold, silver, and copper leaf adds a touch of alchemy—a magical framework that catches the light, focuses the eye, and dictates the visual rhythm of the canvas.
In these compositions, the whole is entirely greater than the sum of its parts. Each layer, metallic gleam, and sweeping form exists to harmonize, ultimately offering the viewer an open window into pure joy."
- Ann Gardner
ABOUT ANN GARNDERAnn Gardner is an abstract acrylic painter whose work explores color, movement, form, and the expressive possibilities of abstraction. Born in Washington, D.C., Gardner developed an artistic language rooted in a fascination with visual rhythm and the dynamic relationship between color and space.
She is a graduate of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she deepened her understanding of painting and composition. Her work reflects a strong foundation in traditional fine-art training paired with an adventurous approach to contemporary abstraction.
Among Gardner’s artistic influences are Alexander Calder and Dale Chihuly. Calder’s exploration of movement, balance, and sculptural form, together with Chihuly’s dramatic use of color, light, and organic shapes, have informed Gardner’s approach to creating paintings that feel energetic, fluid, and visually immersive.
Since relocating to Decatur, Georgia in 2010, Gardner has been an active fixture in the regional arts community, maintaining memberships with the Atlanta Arts Association, the Decatur Art Association, Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, and The Atlanta Printmakers Studio.
She currently creates from her studio at Hyatt Cottage in Legacy Park, where she is one of seven resident artists. Parts of he portfolio are on display at Decatur Dermatology & Aesthetics, while her latest body of work is will be featured in an upcoming solo exhibition at Sycamore Place Gallery in Decatur, opening November 1, 2026.