Emotions and Imagination: The works of Anya Getter

Gallery Underground artist Anya Getter

"My art is a way for me to inject my inner world of emotions and imagination into the physical realm of our everyday lives," says Gallery Underground artist Anya Getter. Getter is known for whimsical mixed-media pieces and most recently, a fusion of mosaic and painting, and her work has always been extremely popular with gallery patrons.

Getter was born and raised in Moscow, Russia.  She immigrated to the United States in 1991, and having majored in Computer Science and Information Technology, found a job as a Software Engineer with Fairfax County Public Schools.

Ever since she was a small child, Getter was drawn to painting, sculpture,  knitting, sewing and many other forms of arts and crafts.  Working in the IT field never allowed her talents to blossom, but she always looked for an outlet for her creative energy.

Woman in Red  by Anya Getter (acrylic)

After her twins were born in 2000, Getter first ventured into the world of formal self-expression by decorating kids’ jeans and overalls with colorful  and whimsical appliqués that became an instant hit among mothers looking for one-of-a-kind outfits for their toddlers. With the help of EBay, her work was selling all over the world.   As her children were getting older, Getter's interests also changed. She experimented with various media, and eventually arrived at collage/mixed media art as a perfect match for her artistic vision.  Most of her art comes from her feelings and experiences, and is inspired by quotes or sayings that hold a special meaning to her.  Each painting has many layers to it, and you discover new details each time you look at it.

"I am drawn to bright colors, patterns and various textures, which I love to mix and match on my canvas to reflect a particular mood or a feeling," she says of her work. "I usually draw my inspiration from words – be that a beautiful poem, a meaningful quote, or a popular saying [see "Trust Your Journey," below] "That’s why you will likely find a lot of writing in my work.  Each piece is done in layers, which I believe better reflects the complexity and depth of our emotions, thoughts or experiences."

Trust Your Journey by Anya Getter (acrylic/mixed media)

 Getter is grateful to the many fans of her work for inspiring her art and sharing their insights with her, which in turn enrich her world and find their way back onto the canvas.  "I have heard many people say that every time they look at my painting they discover something new that may have been hidden from them before," she says.  Her paintings almost seem to change with the viewer as his or her feelings and emotions change and fluctuate throughout their daily lives.

Is Your Mama a Llama? by Anya Getter (acrylic)

Getter is particularly known for her fun animal pieces, portraying everything from zoo animals to pets in her work. These pieces always seem to strike a chord with gallery pieces who love the humor and whimsy in them. Titles such as "Is Your Mama a Llama" (shown here), "Owl you Need is Love" (an owl painting) and "Alpacalypse Now!" (a piece with alpacas) are examples of her humorous animal titles.  

Mosaics, sometimes mixed with painting, is a more recent medium for Getter. These works are similar in subject matter to her paintings, many featuring women with amazing hair. In addition to glass, Getter uses broken pottery and other found objects in her work.

Ride the Wave by Anya Getter (mosaic/acrylic)

Getter's work is as varied as her imagination and emotions - Gallery Underground is lucky to be representing her.

--Sandi Parker, Gallery Underground Co-Director