Irene, who was born in Guadeloupe, a small, tropical island in the French West Indies, uses her French upbringing as a basis in her paintings. When studying in Paris, she was moved by the post-impressionist movement, evoking her spontaneous, motion-filled style. Salley’s purpose as an artist is to use her observations to make discoveries about the world she is surrounded in. Her paintings of Guadeloupe, Provence, and Florida encompass her love for her work, as they are filled with emotion, rapid strokes, and color.

If you are unable to attend our First Friday Art Walk event, be sure to visit our gallery later on to view her feature.