Diane Novetsky

Artist Statement

My painting is defined by an intensity of color, smoothly shaped contours, and organic shapes that bend, twist, and rotate in space. A recent series, Orbs, arose from a desire to use geometry in the simplest possible form. Biomorphic shapes were pared down and curvilinear forms emerged as the basic element of my pictures. Circles function as celestial bodies, dark holes, mechanical fragments, and faces. They are invented characters in my painting narrative and reveal intimate stories of their creation.

In the past five years, I’ve developed a somatic vocabulary of biomorphic forms that are evocative of the female body. Serpentine shapes suggest the female form and an organic sensuality. The shapes become increasingly visceral as internal organs and joints such as the heart and pelvis are referenced. Color is at the heart of my painting, and I favor a sensuous, optically rich, matte surface influenced by Matisse cut-outs as well as the vibrating hues of sixties art and design. Using soft, wide brushes that encourage a lush surface, my work is animated by surprise: the jostling of forms in space, unpredictable color, and a sense of whimsy. My work asks the viewer to drop preconceptions of what painting has been and explore the possibilities inherent in a sense of play. I want the viewer to experience my paintings as reflecting the fullness of life, inviting contemplation and joy.

Artist Bio

Diane Novetsky is an abstract painter who uses bold, saturated colors and biomorphic forms evocative of the female body. She is a former graphic designer and business owner of Nova Design, and has also taught painting for many years.

Diane’s work has been widely shown throughout New England including the Art Complex Museum in Duxbury, Galatea Fine Arts, Danforth Museum of Art, Tufts University Aidekman Gallery, Kingston Gallery, and the Boston Convention Center. She started 2024 as a featured solo artist at The Painting Center, NYC. Forthcoming exhibits include the Southern Vermont Art Center and the Kingston Gallery. Diane has been included in prominent group exhibits at the Painting Center, NY, and Mark Borghi Fine Arts, Sag Harbor, NY.

Diane’s work has been published in Artscope, Art New England, the Boston Globe and Boston Voyager. Diane resides in Somerville MA and is a founding member of the Brickbottom Artists Community.