Color us enchanted...work by artist Ramona Nordal (left), represented by Graphite Gallery in New Orleans
Everybody's in LA: Ramona Nordal, Artist
Interview by Paul Oswell
If you've walked down Royal Street and cast your eye into the window of Graphite Gallery, chances are you may have noticed colourful, other-worldly portraits. They are extremely intimate, combining realism and fantasy, strength and vulnerability. These works are by Canadian artist Ramona Nordal, who has a solo show opening there. The show is called ALL TOGETHER and opens this Saturday (March 29th, 2025), with a reception from 6pm to 9pm. The show will run for two weeks.
Out All Day: Hi Ramona, thanks for talking to us! We’ve admired your work in Graphite before, so it’s exciting that you have a solo show coming up. You must have done a fair amount of these already - does the preparation get easier, or does each present its own challenges?
Ramona Nordal: So nice to meet you! Preparing for a show is interesting because you are basically starting from scratch. I really enjoy pushing things and just seeing where it goes. I think that bit by bit the show pieces come together organically.
Your portraits are so striking - they seem immediately real and magical, is that a fair (if general) summation of your art, a kind of magical realism?
I am a huge science fiction fan but also have a huge fascination with early 1900’s-1970’s culture. I think subconsciously I have combined all of these interests and created a family of characters - misfits if you will, that each tell an intriguing story.
I assume that you’ve always loved art and creativity - were your formative art years and learning something that you drove yourself, or did you have inspiring art teachers/family? What’s your artists' origin story?
As far back as I can remember I drew, colored, made mud paintings, and pretended to play the organ. Both music and creativity were at the forefront of my upbringing. I lived on a farm and learned at a young age how to escape through creativity. It’s always been my refuge…even to this day.
I believe that you mainly use biro and acrylic paint - there’s a quotidian simplicity to that, and most people will have experienced using these materials at some point in their lives. Is there a relationship between the materials that you use and the message about human representation that you want to project?
Yes, I use bic pen and acrylic in a lot of my work. I love combining these two materials because they are so opposite - it just works together. There is a softness in the bic pen when combined with the bold acrylic work that offers a boldness to the character that catches the viewer's attention.
What was the first portrait that you remember seeing that made an impression on you?
I think the first portrait I remember seeing was the Mona Lisa. What struck me was how she stared at the viewer with just the slightest smirk. I instantly loved it. She was slightly cheeky but bold and I liked that.
Forgive this very unoriginal question (!) but, could you name any artists that you might cite as influences?
Rothko - he is the color master. Basquiat - he always pushed his boundaries. Those two for sure….but so many more.
Do you use models, or are the faces in your work ones that you have imagined? Do you dream of a face and then wake up and rush to sketch it down, or are you more moved by “real” people?
I don’t use models but I do think that over the years I have somehow created my muses. I love combining features from different decades because the end result is a female representation of something bold, wise and intriguing.
I guess early portraiture was usually a status symbol - look at my finery, look in the background at how much land I own, etc. What kind of thing is it that your portraits are saying?
I think my portraits tell a story about struggle, mystery, trauma, triumph and peace. All of these combined create a female character with an impactful story to tell.
Tell us a little about how you ended up at Graphite - we’re big fans of the gallery here, so whatever the story, we’re glad it happened!
I moved to Toronto in 2013 to focus on my art career. Year after year I kept pushing myself to create more and more. Eventually I received a message from Taylor and soon joined his roster of artists. I knew right away he “got” my work which allowed me to trust him completely to talk about it with his clients. We have been working together for almost 7 years now. I feel fortunate to work with someone who simply allows me to create what I want. The freedom in that is epic.
Will we see you in New Orleans for the opening? And could you please drop your social media, etc, so people can look up more of your amazing work? Thanks again for taking the time, you have all our best wishes for the show!
I will be attending the show. Can’t wait. It’s important to me to see the new work in the gallery, all together. Hence, the title of the show. I am mostly on Instagram: @ramonanordal or my website www.ramonanordal.com
ALL TOGETHER opens at Graphite Gallery (936 Royal Street) on Saturday March 29th at 6pm-9pm, with works being shows for the following two weeks.
READ: GRAPHITE GALLERY, AN ORAL HISTORY
READ: CARLTON SCOTT STURGILL, ARTIST: CURRENT LOCAL TIME
Interview by Paul Oswell
If you've walked down Royal Street and cast your eye into the window of Graphite Gallery, chances are you may have noticed colourful, other-worldly portraits. They are extremely intimate, combining realism and fantasy, strength and vulnerability. These works are by Canadian artist Ramona Nordal, who has a solo show opening there. The show is called ALL TOGETHER and opens this Saturday (March 29th, 2025), with a reception from 6pm to 9pm. The show will run for two weeks.
Out All Day: Hi Ramona, thanks for talking to us! We’ve admired your work in Graphite before, so it’s exciting that you have a solo show coming up. You must have done a fair amount of these already - does the preparation get easier, or does each present its own challenges?
Ramona Nordal: So nice to meet you! Preparing for a show is interesting because you are basically starting from scratch. I really enjoy pushing things and just seeing where it goes. I think that bit by bit the show pieces come together organically.
Your portraits are so striking - they seem immediately real and magical, is that a fair (if general) summation of your art, a kind of magical realism?
I am a huge science fiction fan but also have a huge fascination with early 1900’s-1970’s culture. I think subconsciously I have combined all of these interests and created a family of characters - misfits if you will, that each tell an intriguing story.
I assume that you’ve always loved art and creativity - were your formative art years and learning something that you drove yourself, or did you have inspiring art teachers/family? What’s your artists' origin story?
As far back as I can remember I drew, colored, made mud paintings, and pretended to play the organ. Both music and creativity were at the forefront of my upbringing. I lived on a farm and learned at a young age how to escape through creativity. It’s always been my refuge…even to this day.
I believe that you mainly use biro and acrylic paint - there’s a quotidian simplicity to that, and most people will have experienced using these materials at some point in their lives. Is there a relationship between the materials that you use and the message about human representation that you want to project?
Yes, I use bic pen and acrylic in a lot of my work. I love combining these two materials because they are so opposite - it just works together. There is a softness in the bic pen when combined with the bold acrylic work that offers a boldness to the character that catches the viewer's attention.
What was the first portrait that you remember seeing that made an impression on you?
I think the first portrait I remember seeing was the Mona Lisa. What struck me was how she stared at the viewer with just the slightest smirk. I instantly loved it. She was slightly cheeky but bold and I liked that.
Forgive this very unoriginal question (!) but, could you name any artists that you might cite as influences?
Rothko - he is the color master. Basquiat - he always pushed his boundaries. Those two for sure….but so many more.
Do you use models, or are the faces in your work ones that you have imagined? Do you dream of a face and then wake up and rush to sketch it down, or are you more moved by “real” people?
I don’t use models but I do think that over the years I have somehow created my muses. I love combining features from different decades because the end result is a female representation of something bold, wise and intriguing.
I guess early portraiture was usually a status symbol - look at my finery, look in the background at how much land I own, etc. What kind of thing is it that your portraits are saying?
I think my portraits tell a story about struggle, mystery, trauma, triumph and peace. All of these combined create a female character with an impactful story to tell.
Tell us a little about how you ended up at Graphite - we’re big fans of the gallery here, so whatever the story, we’re glad it happened!
I moved to Toronto in 2013 to focus on my art career. Year after year I kept pushing myself to create more and more. Eventually I received a message from Taylor and soon joined his roster of artists. I knew right away he “got” my work which allowed me to trust him completely to talk about it with his clients. We have been working together for almost 7 years now. I feel fortunate to work with someone who simply allows me to create what I want. The freedom in that is epic.
Will we see you in New Orleans for the opening? And could you please drop your social media, etc, so people can look up more of your amazing work? Thanks again for taking the time, you have all our best wishes for the show!
I will be attending the show. Can’t wait. It’s important to me to see the new work in the gallery, all together. Hence, the title of the show. I am mostly on Instagram: @ramonanordal or my website www.ramonanordal.com
ALL TOGETHER opens at Graphite Gallery (936 Royal Street) on Saturday March 29th at 6pm-9pm, with works being shows for the following two weeks.
READ: GRAPHITE GALLERY, AN ORAL HISTORY
READ: CARLTON SCOTT STURGILL, ARTIST: CURRENT LOCAL TIME