Ray Testa

Raised in New York and having spent many years in London and Mumbai, Ray draws on a rich tapestry of cultural experiences to inform his creative work. His midtown studio practice spans oil painting, watercolor, mixed media, clay, metal, and stone with each medium offering a unique avenue for expression. In addition to visual art, Ray is a published poet, children’s book author and songwriter with several collections to his credit.

Artist’s Statement:

Painting is where I go to let go. I rarely begin with a plan, just a pull toward a certain color palette, and a curiosity about where it might take me. My process is intuitive, like dreaming out loud in layers of oil and mixed media. I explore color as emotion and imagination as language, building pieces that feel like abstract metaphors for things I dream about, whether sleeping or awake.

My work is full of rich, sometimes wild colors: rainbows, deep reds, shadows that twist into waves. Each canvas is a space where I can be completely myself, learning not only new techniques but something about who I am in that moment.

I don’t aim to explain everything. I’d rather invite people to look and feel for themselves, because like dreams, art means something different to everyone.

Bachelors of Business and Technology
Personal Residency in Fine Arts

Schedule forthcoming