New York’s Lower East Side is often a swirl of urban grit, neon lights, and late-night hustle. Yet on one chilly December afternoon, the bustle feels far away as soon as you enter Galerie Shibumi, a space glowing with gentle light and elegant minimalism. Here, artist Josie Girand is quietly greeting visitors, exuding an air of both warmth and reverie that perfectly complements her new series, “The Trick.” Running from December 5 through January 5, the exhibition transforms the gallery’s white walls into portals leading to surreal realms. Waiflike female figures gaze out at you with secrets in their eyes, wispy fairies float on the edges of consciousness, and soft, misty shapes hint at stories only partly told. There’s a sense that if you stood still long enough, you could slip right into one of Girand’s dreamscapes.
A Serendipitous Start
Before Girand’s work was the toast of the season, she was simply another creative soul passing through the shared studio space that she, by chance, occupied near Galerie Shibumi’s founder, Folana Miller. At first, it was just a friendly acquaintanceship: a nod here, a quick greeting there. But Miller couldn’t help noticing the mesmerizing canvases that were taking shape on Girand’s easel. Hints of hazy outlines, spectral figures, and moody color palettes captured Miller’s imagination. She recalls pausing frequently to observe a painting-in-progress—a luminous face materializing out of an ethereal background, as though conjured from a dream. Eventually, her curiosity led her to invite Girand to show her work at Shibumi. That chance moment between neighbors turned into an opportunity that would push Girand’s career forward in ways she never anticipated.
From Quiet Scribbler to City Sensation
Growing up in New York City meant constant noise, movement, and possibility. Yet, as a child, Girand preferred her own creative bubble to the bustle outside. She’d spend long hours sketching faces or silhouettes, often using her mother as a muse. She discovered how shading could evoke depth and emotion in just a single line or curve, igniting a quiet kind of passion for storytelling through images. While her peers were out exploring the city’s bright lights, Girand found an inner refuge in her art.
Her artistic journey led her from the skyscrapers of Manhattan to the rolling fields of Kenyon College in rural Ohio, where she studied among peers who valued creativity over competition. The slower pace of life there granted her the freedom to experiment. She could paint without the pressure to produce something “sellable,” soaking in the supportive community and shaping a distinctive voice that was gradually pulling her toward more surreal, fantasy-driven themes.
Falling in Love with Oils—and the Fantastic
Initially, Girand’s artistic expression was rooted in the precision of pencil work. But about three years ago, she encountered oil paints and found her calling. Something about the medium’s richness and adaptability entranced her: the way colors could be boldly applied or gently coaxed into delicate gradients. She quickly realized that oils could achieve a lushness pencil could not, becoming the foundation for a style that marries dreamy surrealism with a contemplative calm.
She names Leonora Carrington, Edward Hopper, Adrian Ghenie, and Anna Weyant as major inspirations. From Carrington’s whimsical eeriness, she borrows a sense of dreamy mystery. From Hopper, she channels a moody stillness that evokes quiet tension. Weyant’s playful drama and Ghenie’s boldness also slip into her brushstrokes. Yet Girand’s finished pieces are undeniably her own—familiar in their influences but strikingly individual in spirit.
A Story of Heartache and Empowerment
The central narrative in “The Trick” stems from one of Girand’s own heartbreaks. In these paintings, there’s a protagonist who becomes smitten with a “cotton candy man,” a figure so sweet and airy that he dissolves the moment he encounters her tears. Originally a reflection of Girand’s personal pain, the cotton candy man evolved into a broader symbol of obsession, sorrow, and eventual self-discovery. Each piece feels like a page torn from a modern fairy tale: enchanting in tone yet laced with raw emotions that speak to the fragility of love.
Girand hopes that viewers won’t just see her personal story of heartbreak but will attach their own experiences to the images. In that sense, a waiflike figure standing in a misty clearing could remind someone of lost friendship or, for another viewer, a moment of transcendent release. The layers of meaning shimmer beneath the surface, waiting for everyone to unlock them.
Brushes, Faces, and Inspiration
Girand’s creative process ranges from spontaneous outpourings to meticulously layered explorations. Sometimes she completes a painting in the span of a single, feverish day—her mind bursting with a story that can’t wait to be told. Other pieces linger for weeks or months, acquiring subtle shifts in color or form with each new layer of paint. Buyers and casual viewers alike are drawn to this evolving complexity, and the price range, from $900 to $4,400, makes her work accessible to young art enthusiasts and seasoned collectors alike.
When her imagination stalls, Girand says she returns to painting faces. There is something about the human visage—the tilt of an eyebrow or the shape of a mouth—that always acts as a key to unlock a painting’s narrative. That single evocative focal point often sets the mood for the rest of the piece, guiding her hand in crafting the final composition.
Speaking Quietly About Bigger Issues
At first glance, Girand’s paintings might seem like pure fantasy, but subtle undercurrents run through them. Whether it’s consumerism or climate change, Girand weaves in aspects of contemporary life that concern her. Instead of depicting towering landfills or exhausted shoppers in checkout lines, she employs atmospheric symbolism: perhaps a delicate figure overshadowed by a looming mass of ominous shapes, hinting at ecological threats. Or a cluster of ghostly objects floating just out of reach—maybe a nod to our constant craving for more. Girand believes that a gentle invitation to ponder these challenges resonates more than a heavy-handed lecture. In her world, art is not escapism; it’s a soft push toward awareness.
Why Art Absolutely Matters
In an era dominated by fleeting social media videos and fragmented online conversations, Girand sees art galleries as sanctuaries for genuine emotional engagement. Stepping inside Galerie Shibumi, you’re momentarily disconnected from pings and notifications, opening space for contemplation. The ethereal figures and half-lit corners in her paintings spark a quiet dialogue with viewers, reminding them of experiences like longing, love, and loneliness—shared human emotions that can get lost in the digital shuffle. Girand believes that recognizing these unifying feelings helps us realize that, underneath our diverse exteriors, many of us yearn for the same sense of connection and comfort.
Entering Girand’s World
To delve deeper into Girand’s surreal stories, you can follow her on Instagram (@rugratz4lyfe). There, she answers questions about her techniques and inspirations, and she welcomes insights from art fans about how they interpret her work. It’s not just a passive scrolling experience—Girand aims to spark conversation about the threads that bind us all: heartbreak, renewal, and the ongoing search for something that feels like magic.
In “The Trick,” Girand offers a gentle but resonant message: heartbreak can unravel us, yet in that unraveling, we often find strands of unexpected strength. If you step into Galerie Shibumi before January 5, you’ll encounter a world where every surreal brushstroke whispers a universal truth about love, loss, and resilience. Each painting beckons you closer, reminding you that even when we feel alone in our struggles, there’s a larger story at play—one woven together by the highs and lows of the human heart. Whether you connect with the cotton candy man, the lonely waif, or the faded landscapes that flicker at the edges of your vision, you’ll likely recognize echoes of your own experiences in Girand’s canvases. That recognition, subtle yet profound, is at the very heart of her art.