Ali Cavanaugh is an internationally recognized artist whose distinct approach to Modern Fresco Painting has garnered her significant acclaim. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Cavanaugh's passion for art led her to study painting at Kendall College of Art and Design in Michigan, followed by a residency at the prestigious New York Studio Residency Program in New York City. She earned her BFA from Kendall in 1995, an achievement that marked the beginning of her journey as a professional artist.
At the young age of 22, Cavanaugh co-founded The New School Academy of Fine Art, an atelier based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This venture reflected her commitment to both education and the arts, providing aspiring artists with classical training in a hands-on, studio-centered environment. The academy flourished under her guidance, and during this time, Cavanaugh honed her skills and further developed her artistic voice.
In 2001, Cavanaugh moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, a pivotal decision that would significantly impact her artistic practice. Inspired by the unique light, landscape, and rich artistic traditions of the Southwest, she spent six years there, developing her modern fresco process on kaolin clay. This technique became a hallmark of her work, allowing her to create deeply textured, luminous paintings that combine the timelessness of fresco with a contemporary sensibility. Her innovative process uses QoR watercolors, which lend a vibrancy and depth to her work that have become instantly recognizable.
Cavanaugh’s work often focuses on the delicate balance between vulnerability and resilience, a theme informed by her early loss of hearing. Through her careful observation of body language and expression, she has cultivated an ability to depict the subtleties of human emotion and experience. This keen awareness infuses her paintings, which are often intimate and deeply personal, yet universally relatable.
Her paintings have been showcased in numerous national and international exhibitions, including major art hubs such as New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Santa Fe, Barcelona, Mykonos, London, and Fabriano. Among her most notable exhibitions is the 2022 Figurative Show at the prestigious Salmagundi Club in New York City, where her painting Listening in Silence earned the Award of Excellence. Additionally, she was awarded a cash prize at the National Watercolor Society’s 103rd International Open in Los Angeles for her portrait Notice. Her career has been further highlighted by two significant retrospective museum exhibitions: in 2018 at the Ellen Noël Art Museum and in 2016 at the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art.
Ali Cavanaugh's accomplishments extend far beyond gallery exhibitions. Her work has graced the covers of numerous publications and been featured in a wide range of articles and online platforms, including My Modern Met, Artsy, Fine Art Connoisseur, and Colossal. Her presence in print is equally notable, with features in The New York Times Magazine, American Art Collector, and American Artist Watercolor, among others. Additionally, her paintings have appeared on book covers, further cementing her influence in both the fine art and literary worlds. In 2019, Unicorn Press published a career retrospective titled Modern Fresco Paintings, with a launch and book signing at the iconic Strand Bookstore in Manhattan. Beyond her media presence, Cavanaugh has had the honor of painting commissioned portraits for prestigious publications such as TIME magazine and The New York Times. Her portraits are celebrated for their soulful depth, capturing the essence of her subjects with remarkable clarity and emotional resonance.
In 2019, Ali Cavanaugh launched the Aligator Watercolor Community on Patreon, attracting artists from around the globe. In this vibrant, international community spanning 13 countries, Cavanaugh teaches modern watercolor portraiture techniques and offers creative watercolor challenges. More importantly, she serves as a mentor, guiding artists from beginner levels to professional achievement. Under her mentorship, many of her students have gone on to be accepted into prestigious exhibitions and win top prizes, further testament to the impact of her teaching and support.
Ali Cavanaugh's artistic journey continues to evolve, marked by her dedication to innovation, education, and connection through her art. Her ability to merge classical techniques with contemporary sensibilities, along with her deep commitment to mentoring the next generation of artists, has firmly established her as a leading figure in the art world. Through her work, Cavanaugh transcends boundaries, capturing the essence of the human experience with grace and profound insight. As she moves forward in her career, her influence remains far-reaching, inspiring both collectors and aspiring artists alike, while cementing her legacy in contemporary portraiture.