Artist Renee Coates credits the isolated tropical oasis of Hana-Maui as the source of inspiration for her work. "The unparalleled light and vibrant color found in the islands contributes greatly to my artistic vision. Growing up in Hawaii has given me a unique perspective of the world that I strive to reflect in my artwork. I love to travel gathering new inspirations, but no matter where I am I carry Hana's beauty with me."
Renee's art captures the essence of Hana with rich saturated color, lush foliage, and Gauguin-esque scenes of island life. Coates has received national acclaim for her artistic achievements, including the National Alliance for Excellence Award, and winning the State of Hawaii's Sterling Scholar Award in Visual Arts.
After graduating from Hana High School in 1999, Renee decided to pursue her love of painting and design in one of the world's art meccas, New York City. "I took a huge leap of faith by moving so far from home, but I wanted to explore outside my comfort zone and New York was about as different from Hana as you could get." In 2004, Coates graduated on the Dean's List from the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan, where she received a BFA in Textile/Surface Design.
Renee currently divides her time between a studio in Old Town Alexandria, VA and her Hana-Maui studio, where she creates unique artwork for the world to enjoy.
View additional art by Renee at www.reneecoates.com
Read what inspires, amuses, and enlightens the artist on the 52 Pieces Blog: Piece of Mind
