Noelle Gunsay wants her art to speak to the viewer. For them to be open to the philosophical translation of beauty. To observe and understand and be open to the underlying truthful narrative. The Bountiful native, recently returned from studying art for the last three years at the prestigious Grand Central Atelier to open an art studio in Salt Lake.

“I paint classical, old renaissance,” she said. “I’ve studied classical painting for nine years.”

Gunsay said she got her start at Millcreek Junior High. “My teacher encouraged me to take the Summer Snow workshop at Snow College. They brought in professional artists from around the world to the middle of nowhere. That’s how I stumbled into this world.”

At the end of junior high she transitioned to an independent study high school, Gunsay said. “I graduated a little early and went to the Beaux-Arts Academy in Provo as well as the Casey Child’s Fine Art Studio in Pleasant Grove.”

Gunsay helped a commissioned artist paint part of the murals in the Rome LDS Visitors Center and went on to win the Frank Wright Honors Award at the 95th Grand National Exhibition of the American Artist Professional League and has won numerous other awards.

To get admitted into the Grand Central Atelier she had to submit an application with some of her work, she said. “I had to show a portfolio, send a resume and go through the interview process. I did a ton of work on my own. The portfolio was mainly pieces I was working on in my workshop classes and various other programs.”

Gunsay said she came back from New York to be near family. “My studio is to begin a most substantive practice to bring in some other people to show what I’ve learned and to study art history.”

It’s to make another artist available to the community, she said. “It’s for teaching art and hosting community events and to give an option for artists to reach out to other artists.”

There are not a lot of classical painters here, said Gunsay. “Their studios have either shut down or moved. Access to highly trained artists is hard to find in Salt Lake City or nearby.”

People who are interested in art don’t know how to search for technical training, she said. “Colleges don’t teach technical training, they teach design.”

Painting is a very slow, patient process, said Gunsay. “I come up with ideas through experience information – taking it in from around me and looking at other artwork. I’m constantly revising and refining ideas.”

Classical art is different from modern art, she said. “Classical art is working with a language that is visual and more relatable. Modern art is asking people to come to a new language. I don’t want people to have to figure it out with a new language.”

Artists and the art practice may seem very mysterious, said Gunsay. “I hope this demystifies it.”

Gunsay’s studio is located at 592 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City. Anyone who is interested in her art or would like to study with her may contact her at noellegunsay.com.λ