Gabriel Soto (b. El Salvador, 1993) is a painter with an interest in vintage imagery, philosophy, science, and esotericism. He graduated from The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts with a BFA where he trained in figurative and representational art. 

Gabriel is a current recipient of the Artists’ Grant from the Maryland State Arts Council. His work has been shown in several exhibits in Maryland, DC, as well as the midwest and in virtual spaces. 

Primarily focused on classical painting and surreal imagery, Gabriel is currently based out of the Washington DC area, where he resides as a DACA recipient.

“Recently, my paintings and drawings have taken upon two different subject matters. One consists of geometric abstract forms in landscape scenes; combining the style of Brutalist structure, and the theatrical setting of a Spanish Baroque painting. The other subject is a reference to sensory deprivation experiments held in the mid 20th century.

Although these subjects may appear different, I am using geometric forms as the connecting theme between these works. All of the artwork in this series is a juxtaposition of traditional pedagogy of painting with the aesthetics of scientific illustration. There is a play on architectural and scientific principles of order and the Platonic concept of unseen abstract worlds. I am using these contrasting stylistic choices to attract viewers to reconsider their perception and inspire questions about the fundamental structures of our reality.”