Kauai, the Garden Island of the Hawaiian chain, has been inspirational for artists of many different genres. Today, many of the artists here excel in their chosen media and enjoy the essences of the Aloha Spirit that is unique to Kaua’i. Supported by the local government and individuals there are museums and fine art galleries located throughout the island creating the vibrant artists community. This community is as diverse as the topography of the island and is as vibrant as the colors of greens on the north shore and the reds of the west side. The different styles of art on the island represent every color of the rainbow and are as beautiful and ethereal as the waves crashing along our shores. Visitors and collectors are proud to have a piece of paradise displayed in their home or gallery as a memento of their visit to the beauty, splendor and the spirit of Aloha that they experienced on the island. Throughout the world there are paintings, sculptures and photographs by local and visiting artists…a testimonial to the emotionally -rousing effects of this delightful -tropical island.

Wyland Gallery Kauai is known for superb fine art. Owner & Operator Joanne Higgins-Zietz, a long time north shore resident, has cultivated a diverse collection representing 21 artists ranging from realism to abstract art. With Joanne’s 15 years of experience dealing art, her gallery is a space you must explore.
Anna Halldin Maule who trained under the guidance of her celebrated grandfather, the Swedish artist Bror Halldin, starting a new life in Hawaii has brought something extra special to her work. “In Sweden I enjoyed many commissioned pieces, but I often felt my vision was being restrained and compromised, but now in Hawaii my inspiration is renewed and I have a whole new creative perspective to explore. Hawaii is so exotic and I see flowers and colors and composition in a fresh and almost spiritual way. I am so excited with all the possibilities!”
Gazing into a Grant Pecoff painting, you are drawn into an atmosphere where vibrant light and electric colors transform the familiar into the extraordinary. Pecoff’s art is an invitation to slide into a state where we feel alive and awake, into a setting of passionate depth and radiating energy where our hearts and imaginations are filled with possibilities. Take a trip into Grant Pecoff’s art and share his vision of our magical world.

Ric Madden grew up in the mountains of rural Pennsylvania, where he learned to appreciate nature and the beauty of landscapes at an early age. Inspired by the tropical landscapes of the Hawaiian islands, and especially the island of Kauai, he works primarly from memory and his style is constantly evolving. His subject matter encompass landscapes, portraits, dream-scapes and the incredibly lush flora and fauna of the tropical isles. He enjoys watercolors for their purity and simplicity.

Fanny Bilodeau was born in the Belgium Congo (now Ziare) traveling often between schooling in brussels Belgium, to the far corners of Africa. The extremes in culture, climate and geography had a deep emotional impact and fascinated her from a very young age. This coupled with being born into a long line of artists from her family encouraged her to express her feelings by means of paper, ink, and pencil.

A true renaissance man, Thomadora has been bringing joy and beauty into the world since his youthful days growing up in Ohio. His parents encouraged the natural sense of color, composition, the ming and humor that was apparent in a color drawing Thom created before his second birthday. His first “work” still hangs, professionally framed, in his parents’ home.  Thom developed many of his artistic gifts throughout his youth including sculpting, printmaking, jewelry design, photography and musicianship. But painting emerged as his overriding passion and he achieved a B. A. in Fine Art from San Diego State University in 1974. That year, he had his first one man show. Since then, Thom has been exhibited all over the world and his patron list reads like a Who’s Who.

You can find Wyland Gallery Kauai in the heart of Kapaa, located in the Dragon Building across from the ABC store.

One of the island’s premier colorists is Mercedes Maza. Her master works encapsulate the poetic and the aesthetic with the vividness and subtlety of color and movement. Mercedes Maza is recognized  as one of the foremost watercolorists in the Hawaiian Islands. A native of Colombia, Mercedes remembers her initial fascination with painting at the age of five. She further explored her interests at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, where she engaged her pursuit as an artist in a variety of different mediums. In 1975 Mercedes met her mentor, Waihang Lai, a member of the American Watercolor Society (AWS) at the Kauai Community College. While under his teaching, she discovered how to portray the inner mood and emotion of a subject. Her mentor called this style of painting the expression of chi, which she now brings to life in her watercolors. She opened her first gallery on Kaua’i in 1982, sharing a building with James Hoyle and A.J. Metzger in Hanapepe. In 1992, she opened Art and Soul in Old Koloa Town where she remained until she moved to the north shore in 2000 when she opened in the Ching Young Village. Mercedes remained there until last year when she moved her gallery to the Hanalei Town Center.

Her gallery, appropriately named Art and Soul, is located just past the “Wishing Well” Shaved Ice Truck heading north into Hanalei town at Hanalei Town Center. We encourage you to drop by and experience her work which fuses the vibrancy of the island colors with the classical European Style and Asian brushwork. One can view the works of Mercedes Maza at the Princeville Hotel where she displays her work  every Monday and every other Friday evening from 6 PM to 10 PM.

Art and Soul Gallery also showcases a different artist on the third Saturday of each month along with a reception beginning at 4 PM. Please contact the gallery toll free at: 877.SoulArt (877.768.5278) or on the web at http://www.maza-art.com.