Catalina Novac Gallery 

About Catalina Novac

The Art of Happiness

My paintings explore how beauty, color, and creative engagement can nurture human flourishing and well-being. Inspired by Self-Determination Theory (Edward L. Deci and Richard M. Ryan), I am interested in the ways autonomy, competence, and meaningful connection contribute to a fulfilling life. Painting allows me to experience and express these dimensions through the freedom to create, continuous learning, and meaningful connections with people, memories, places, and shared emotions.

Working primarily with soft pastel palettes and abstract forms, I seek to evoke calm, tenderness, and possibility. In a world often marked by haste and uncertainty, I view painting as an act of quiet resistance—a space where beauty can be cultivated, attention can slow down, and joy can emerge as a subtle yet enduring presence. My hope is that these works invite viewers to pause, reflect, and reconnect with their own capacities for wonder, creativity, connection, and happiness.

My work has been exhibited in galleries and exhibitions across the United States, Italy, and online international venues. Recent exhibitions include the Venice International Art Fair and ANIMA MUNDI: RITUALS at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello in Venice; the Rome International Art Fair in Rome; the TRACE virtual exhibition hosted by PixelAura Gallery; the L7 Gallery international online painting exhibition; exhibitions with the Fairfax Art League at The Virginian in Fairfax City and the Church of the Good Shepherd in Burke; and an online exhibition with Monochromica Art Gallery.

Solo exhibitions include the Kings Park Library in Fairfax, Virginia (August–November 2026), the Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery at the Schar Center in Fairfax, Virginia (2027), and a planned exhibition in Venice, Italy (June–July 2027).

My artistic work has also received international recognition. In April 2026, I was selected for Artfinder's Curators' Selection – Best Art for April 2026, a curated collection featuring outstanding artists from around the world. I was also named a Finalist in The People's Artist, an international initiative led by Johnny Depp supporting The Art of Elysium, recognizing artistic excellence and the power of art to inspire positive social change.

Website: https://novac.us/