Born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico, Gladys Roldan-de-Moras is known for her paintings which spotlight Spanish culture, including courageous, gallant Mexican escaramuzas daringly riding horses sidesaddle in a rodeo-style festival, romantic Flamenco señoritas clad in exuberant Andalusian dresses, and old-fashioned, delicate damsels in intimate, exquisite poses. After living in San Antonio for over 25 years, she finds great inspiration in representing her love of Spanish culture. “I try to paint the beauty around me,” says Gladys of her work, “I am inspired by turn-of-the-century Spanish painters.”
Her talent has landed her work in many private and public permanent collections, at the national and international levels. Gladys’ striking, romantic art has been cited in several publications such as Southwest Art Magazine, American Western Art Collector, Western Art and Architecture, Architectural Digest European Edition, San Antonio Express-News, Western American Literature, Art Business News, El Dictamen de Veracruz, and La Voz Latina, to name a few.
The product of a long line of artists and artisans Gladys was born in Monterrey, Mexico. She began enjoying Art at a very young age and took a circuitous route to become a fine artist. After attending Medical School she left her promising medical career to become the fine artist we know today. In 1984 she moved to Austin where she received her degree from the University of Texas.
She has studied the art of painting under the guidance of distinguished National and International instructors such as Dan Gerhartz, Quang Ho, Morgan Weistling, CW Mundy, George Strickland, Frank Lalumia, Daniel Greene, Scott Burdick, Kevin Macpherson, Jeffrey Watts, Ron Rencher, Sherrie McGraw, Ken Backhaus, Laura Robb, Johanna Harmon, Janice Yow Hindes, William Hocker, Harold Phoenix, Helen Van Wyk, John Budicin, C.J Beck, Professor Gustavo Trujillo Martin del Campo, and classes and lectures by Richard Schmid.
Gladys credits her growth as an artist to the years of study and guidance under Daniel F Gerhartz.
Her paintings have been acquired by National and International private collectors, The University of Texas in San Antonio (UTSA), United States Air Force (USAF), San Antonio Art League Museum Permanent Collection, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM), Hospitals, Law Firms, On-Board Software Co. etc. Her artwork has been featured in TV programs such as “Lo Mejor de lo Nuestro (Univision)and published in Architectural Digest International Edition. She has been cited in publications such as the Southwest Art Magazine, American Western Art Collector, Western Art and Architecture, San Antonio Express News, Western American Literature, Prime Time, Tritonian, Art Business News, El Dictamen de Veracruz, and La Voz Latina.
During the summer months and Holidays she travels to her native land, Mexico and other countries where she works on paintings, teaches workshops, and searches for new ideas. She enjoys and encourages Plein-Aire painting, therefore seldom will you see her without a field easel and umbrella. She is a full-time artist constantly researching books and visiting Museums. Gladys collects and studies, turn of the century Art Instruction books.
Some of the Artists that she admires and looks up to are John Singer Sargent, Anders Zorn, Cecilia Beaux, Mary Cassatt, Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida, Nicolai Fechin, Richard Schmid, Jules Bastien Le Page, Dan Gerhartz, Howard Sanden , Alphonse Mucha and Abott Thayer to mention a few.
Gladys de Moras is a member of American Impressionist Society -Signature member, American Women Artists , The American Society of Classical Realism (ASCR), The American Society of Portrait Artists (ASOPA),The New York Society of Portrait Artists, Oil Painters of America (OPA), Christians in Portraiture, The Coppini Academy of Fine Arts , American Women Artists , KAWA (Kick Ass Women Artists) and Art by Latina Artists.
She lives and works in San Antonio Texas.
AWARDS
2023 Induction into the NATIONAL COWGIRL MUSEUM AND HALL OF FAME. View her induction and acceptance speech here.
2023 FREDERIC REMINGTON AWARD at the Prix De West at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
2022 PATRONS’ CHOICE AWARD at QUEST FOR THE WEST ART SHOW AND SALE at the Eiteljorg Museum.
2021 Winner of the Sam Houston Award for BEST PAINTING at the 2021 Night of Artists at the Briscoe Western Art Museum.
2021 Elected board member of the American Women Artists Organization.
2020 Nominated for consideration to the Hall of Fame of the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, Texas.
2019 American Impressionist Society Panel Discussion. Guest speaker in the Best of Show Panel Group Discussion featuring three past AIS Best of Show Winners.
Briscoe Western Art Museum- 210/West Gallery Talk: Women of the West. I was honored to be a guest speaker and talk about my art in this beautiful new gallery of the museum which has one of my pieces in the permanent collection.
2018 Grand Prize-Best in Show American Women Artists “Full Sun-American Women Artists Illuminate the Haggin Museum”.
2017 David Crockett Artists’ Choice Award. Briscoe Museum of Western Art 2017 Night of Artists.
2016 Desert Caballeros Western Art Museum Museum Purchase award at the Cowgirl Up! 2016 Invitational Exhibition and Sale.
2016 Desert Caballeros Western Art Museum Directors Award at the Cowgirl Up! 2016 Invitational Exhibition and Sale.
2015 Eiteljorg Museum “Quest for the West” Artists’ Choice Award.
2015 Best of Show from the July 2015 BoldBrush Art Competition.
2014 Master Signature Member of the American Women Artists..
2013 Master Signature Member of the American Impressionist Society.
2013 American Impressionist Society 14th Annual National Juried Exhibition Award of Merit.
2013 February Finalist RayMar Art Painting Competition.
2013 American Women Artists National Juried Competition Award of Merit.
2013 Award of Merit-Online Juried Competition AWA.
2013 13th Annual AMERICAN IMPRESSIONIST SOCIETY National Juried Exhibition “Best of Show”.
2011 December Coppini Academy of Fine Arts “Artist of the Year” Award.
2010 December “People’s Choice Award” Coppini Academy of Fine Arts Miniature Show.
2010 October . “American Impressionist Society” Award for Excellence in Painting at the National Juried Show and Competition in Nashville, TN.
2009 June Fine Art Views Competition Finalist sponsored by Fine Art Studio Online.
2009 August Fine Art Views Painting Competition sponsored by Fine Art Studio Online.
The Julian Onderdonk Memorial Purchase Award at the 74th Annual San Antonio Art League and Museum
Artist Magazine Award for Excellence in Painting” at the Oil Painters of America ” Fourteenth Annual National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils.
Grumbacher Award
“Jury’s Top 50,” Salon International 2007 and 2009, International Museum of Contemporary Masters
PUBLICATIONS
2022 SouthWest Art Magazine February/March. Feature Editorial “Born to Paint”.
2021 FRONT COVER of WESTERN ART COLLECTOR MAGAZINE December
2014 SOUTHWEST ART MAGAZINE JUNE, EDITORIAL.
2013Western American Literature Winter.
