Gemma Di Grazia (b.1970) is a native New Yorker raised on the Upper West Side in an exceptionally loving and creative home surrounded by art and poetry. Her parents attended The Cooper Union, and her passion for art originates from her life with them. As a child, she often joined her father in his studio and watched him produce breathtaking designs and illustrations while navigating the complex world of commercial art. A young Gemma often listened in on his weekly poetry group, where she heard literary masters like Sharon Olds read evocative prose that sparked her imagination. Family friends and renowned artists Milton Glaser and David Leffel provided Gemma with mentorship, valuable insights, and instruction in her formative adult years. Some of Gemma’s most cherished memories are working alongside her mother, melding their distinct sensibilities into collaborative and unique works of art. Her mother was an inspiration whose profound influence, alongside her father’s, still runs throughout Gemma’s art. Gemma’s very being is inseparable from the creative process and the act of painting; every time her pastels or brush touch a canvas, she feels renewed. Gemma studied at S.V.A., Parsons, and the Art Students League of New York. She is a longstanding signature member of the Pastel Society of America and an artist member of The Salmagundi Club. Gemma received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Hunter College.