WinterLude Group Exhibition at Bryant Street Gallery, Palo Alto

Original art doesn't have to mean a major investment. A guide to starting a collection with small-format works, collages, and prints, with honest advice on what to look for and why size doesn't determine significance.

Most conversations about art end at the point of purchase. But what happens after a painting comes home? That's where the real story begins, and where the value of original art truly reveals itself.

Between Two Forms is a 10 × 20 inch original geometric abstract diptych painting in blue and white, built from interlocking planes and layered acrylic color. Designed as a horizontal composition, the work explores the tension between structure and transition. This is a painting about threshold. The space where one form ends and another begins, where water meets land, where color shifts from cool to cooler, where the eye pauses before continuing across the surface. That threshold is the subject. The Diptych as Compositional Logic A diptych is not simply two paintings. It is a relationship. Each panel in this original abstract diptych painting holds its own internal structure, while together they form a continuous horizontal field across the full 20-inch span. The seam between them is active, not decorative. It functions as a pause, a breath, a ridge in the composition that recalibrates the eye. This approach to the diptych format in geometric abstraction is central to how I work. As I've written about in my post on constraint and geometric abstract painting, the structural limits of a format are where the most interesting decisions happen. Between Two Forms can be installed as one extended horizontal work or as two independent 10 × 10 compositions. Both readings are complete. If you're exploring the diptych format, Sand Dune and That Time of Night offer two different approaches to the same structural logic. Blue and White: Color as Structure The palette here is deliberate and restrained. Blues range from cool, near-white tones to deeper, more saturated planes, built through layered acrylic application rather than blended transitions. White functions as both ground and form, holding space and defining edge simultaneously. This is not decorative color. In this blue and white abstract painting, color carries spatial weight. The shifts between tones create depth and movement, echoing the logic of a horizon without representing one. The result is a surface that rewards sustained attention, revealing more as the light in the room changes. For collectors drawn to blue abstract wall art with a strong sense of structure and restraint, this palette offers presence without noise. Landscape as Departure Point Between Two Forms belongs to a body of work that treats landscape as a structural reference rather than a subject. The horizontal orientation, the layered planes, the tension between two distinct zones of color, these are landscape elements translated into geometric form. The title names that translation directly. Two forms, held in relation. Land and water. Geometry and atmosphere. Precision and openness. This geometric abstract landscape painting does not ask you to see a specific place. It asks you to feel the logic of one. Materials and Technique Between Two Forms is created using professional-grade acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas. Each panel carries a 1.5-inch profile with clean, refined edges. The surface reveals subtle shifts in tone and layering up close, emphasizing the hand-built nature of the work. This is an original hand-painted abstract canvas. The color relationships, edges, and surface variations are built layer by layer and cannot be reproduced. The work carries the direct imprint of process, decision, and time. How to Display This Abstract Diptych This horizontal abstract diptych wall art is professionally framed and ready to hang. Installation options include: Hung together as a single 10 × 20 inch horizontal composition Installed with a measured gap to emphasize the structural pause between panels Displayed as two independent 10 × 10 works in separate rooms or arrangements Ideal placements include: Above a sofa, bed, or console as a horizontal focal point In interiors that prioritize structure, material, and intentional design Along a hallway or narrow wall where horizontal scale reads well If you're working through scale decisions, my room-by-room art size guide and my guide to collecting geometric abstract art are good starting points. FAQ What is a diptych painting?A diptych is a two-panel artwork designed to be viewed together as one composition. Can this be hung separately?Yes, each 10 × 10 panel can stand alone or be installed together as a single 10 × 20 work. Is this an original painting?Yes, this is a one-of-a-kind, hand-painted acrylic work. There are no prints or reproductions of this piece. Artwork Details Title: Between Two Forms Size: 10 × 20 inches overall (two 10 × 10 panels) Medium: Original acrylic on canvas Format: Diptych (two panels) Depth: 1.5" gallery wrap Style: Geometric abstract landscape painting Palette: Blue and white Professionally framed, ready to hang (together or separately) Signed original Certificate of authenticity included Shipping included, US and international Collecting Between Two Forms This original geometric abstract diptych painting is available for collectors seeking contemporary abstract wall art with a strong sense of structure, spatial depth, and restrained color. At $2,400, it is a single-edition work. Once it sells, it is gone. If you're drawn to the diptych format, two related works are available: Sand Dune, a neutral-toned horizontal landscape diptych, and That Time of Night, a darker, more atmospheric take on the same format. For collectors drawn to geometric precision with sharp, defined edges, Sailboat is a 36 × 36 geometric coastal work with a distinctly architectural quality. Shop Between Two Forms If you're interested in a custom geometric abstract painting in a different size or palette, I take commissions. Read about the full process in the complete guide to commissioning an original painting, or reach out at shiloratner@gmail.com and we can talk through what you have in mind.

I've been studying the work of Raimonds Staprans for years. His paintings are impossible to ignore,  saturated, structured, and alive with a tension that keeps you looking. 

New Haven artist Shilo Ratner reflects on how motherhood reshaped her studio practice from late-night painting to 5:30am starts—and how that shift shapes her geometric abstract work.

Experience the coast in a new way with New Haven artist Shilo Ratner. Her geometric abstract paintings, collages, and limited-edition prints distill the shoreline into form, color, and movement, each framed and ready to hang.

A personal reflection on visiting the Sanctuary of Dom Bosco in Brasília—and what it means to stand inside a space defined entirely by blue.

Sand Dune is a new geometric abstract diptych painting, 10 x 20 inches, inspired by the quiet expanse of open terrain. Each panel works as a standalone composition; together they form a continuous landscape in warm neutrals and muted ochres.

People ask me often which of my paintings would work best in their living room. It's one of my favorite questions, because it's never really about the painting alone. It's about how a work of art changes the feeling of a room, and what you want to feel when you walk in.

As an artist whose work has been exhibited in museums and represented by respected galleries, I’ve seen how a painting can transform a space, spark conversation, and even become an investment. First-time collectors often wonder whether a piece will “fit” their home or lifestyle, but the truth is: trust your instincts.

Discover Sunshine Days, a vibrant 20x20 yellow abstract mountain painting that radiates hope and joy. This original artwork by Shilo Ratner brings cheerful energy and new beginnings to your space.

A reflection on the Georgia O'Keeffe traveling exhibition at the de Young Museum in San Francisco, and what her wit, obsession, and lifelong drive to create continue to mean to my practice as a painter.

A reflection on meeting Theophilus Brown after being selected for the Art Space 712 portrait exhibition in San Francisco.

That Time of Night is a new geometric abstract diptych, 20 x 10 inches, inspired by the transitional light of dusk. Each panel works as a standalone composition; together they form a continuous vista.

A personal reflection on the Hilma af Klint exhibition at the Guggenheim — on the presence of her abstract paintings, the architecture of one of the world’s great museums, and what her conviction as an artist means to my own practice.

Most people think geometric abstraction is about perfection, clean lines, balanced forms, controlled color. Walk past a geometric painting and it can look predetermined, resolved before the first mark. That reading misses the point.

Shilo Ratner reflects on her Open Studio at Erector Square in New Haven, CT in October 2016, connecting the event's creative energy to the city's deep artistic and industrial heritage, from Josef Albers at Yale to Eli Whitney's legacy of innovation.

How studying Josef Albers' color theory, twice and in two different academic contexts, permanently changed the way I see, build, and teach color.

Richard Diebenkorn's Notes to Myself, found among his papers after his death in 1993, remain some of the most honest and useful words ever written about the creative process in abstract painting. Here's what they mean to my practice.

The question I get asked most often isn’t about color or style — it’s about size. Here’s how I think about scale, and what I tell collectors who aren’t sure where to start.

LV No. 9 is a 44x28 original mixed media abstract painting on paper — anchored by a blazing fluorescent pink geometric form and the word LOVE. It evokes the freedom of sailing.

One of my artworks was selected for Women’s Rights: An Artist’s Perspective, an online juried exhibition by UniteWomen.org. In today’s political climate, the parallels are impossible to ignore — and the importance of platforms for women artists has never felt more urgent.

Nine years later, Shilo Ratner reflects on her fall 2017 artist residency at the Ely Center of Contemporary Art (ECOCA) in New Haven — three months that shaped the geometric abstract work she creates today.

A complete guide to choosing abstract art for your living room, covering scale, color, mood, placement, and the case for original paintings over prints.

Shilo Ratner visits the New York City studio of legendary figurative sculptor Bruno Lucchesi on June 28, 2012 — an intimate look at the master's unassuming workspace, his striking subway series, and the signed copy of Terracotta she brought home.

Discover how to commission a custom original painting by Shilo Ratner. Tailor-made geometric abstract art created specifically for your space, colors, and vision.

New Haven-based geometric abstract artist Shilo Ratner discusses her creative process, artistic influences including Hilma af Klint and Agnes Martin, and the philosophy behind her contemplative geometric paintings in this Embrace Creatives interview.

Vista is a 30x30 original geometric mountain painting by Shilo Ratner. Inspired by mountain hiking and the quiet strength of open terrain, it brings earthy calm to modern interiors.

Before any paint touches the canvas, my studio is quiet. How meditation became the foundation of my geometric abstract painting practice.

Explore the meaning behind Ebb and Flow, 36in x 48in, an abstract painting about surrender, growth, and the natural cycles we all move through. By artist Shilo Ratner.

Explore the quiet luxury of slowing down. As both artist and collector, I share how abstract landscape art creates visual pauses that invite presence, breath, and mindful living.

Art is connection. Discover the creative philosophy behind minimalist landscape paintings that transform nature's impressions into expansive, meditative works designed to bring quiet sophistication and grounding to your space.

Nature has an incredible way of grounding us — and that influence is central to my landscape-inspired artwork. Rather than painting literal scenes, my work abstracts natural forms into simplified shapes and layered compositions. 

New payment feature makes collecting original art more accessible. Purchase geometric abstract paintings with flexible installment payments at your own pace.

Traces of Stillness is a contemplative 6×6 inch collage series by Shilo Ratner exploring quiet mountain landscapes through minimal form, layered paper, and subtle geometry. Original works on paper available now.

Reflections on the Ruth Asawa Retrospective at MoMA in NYC. Exploring her intricate wire sculptures, dedication through adversity, and lessons in artistic experimentation that inspire my geometric abstract practice.

Large-scale public art installation: Pockets Filled With Hope, a 5x10ft geometric abstract painting by Shilo Ratner, installed at Southern Connecticut State University School of Business.

How mountain paintings and meditation practice help create art that brings calm to your space. Discover the inspiration behind Shilo Ratner's geometric mountain landscapes and full moon paintings.

Shilo Ratner's geometric abstract paintings will be featured at the Affordable Art Fair Stockholm in October 2025 with +GalleryLABS. Discover original contemporary art from this Connecticut artist at Nacka Strandsmässan.

Shilo Ratner's geometric abstract painting "Rise" has been selected for the prestigious 2025 CWA National Open Juried Show at the William Benton Museum of Art at UConn. Exhibition runs May 27-July 27, 2025.

Shilo Ratner's geometric abstract paintings will be featured at the inaugural Scottsdale Ferrari Art Week 2025 with +GalleryLABS, Booth H15. Discover original contemporary art at Arizona's premier art event.

Shilo Ratner's work selected for Best in Show at Aedra Fine Arts Fortune Favors Exhibition. Curator Michael Hanna reviews her geometric abstract paintings, describing them as "poetic" with "angular beauty and grace."

Shilo Ratner's newest geometric abstract paintings will be featured at the Seattle Art Fair 2024 with +GalleryLABS, July 25-28 at Lumen Field Event Center. Discover bold mountain paintings and abstract landscapes from this contemporary artist.

Highlights from the opening reception of Perceptual Consciousness solo exhibition at Claire Carino Contemporary in Boston. View photos from the show featuring geometric abstract paintings.

Shilo Ratner's geometric abstract paintings featured in "Party of 10: Celebrating Women Artists," curated by Amy Zoller at George Billis Gallery in Fairfield, Connecticut. Opening reception November 19, 2023, 3-6 PM.

Shilo Ratner joins Kelly Taylor Interior Design and Candita Clayton Gallery as a speaking artist at Design Week Rhode Island, discussing how original geometric abstract art transforms interior spaces.

Artist Shilo Ratner's climate change-inspired painting Arctic Lands was selected by Guggenheim Curator David Max Horowitz for the Greenwich Art Society's 106th Annual Open Exhibition.

Shilo Ratner's geometric abstract paintings will be featured at the Affordable Art Fair NYC, September 22-25, 2022, at Booth A14 in the Metropolitan Pavilion. Discover original contemporary art at accessible prices.

Shilo Ratner's original mixed media works on paper will be featured at Artexpo Dallas 2022 with Jen Tough Gallery, Booth #405, September 16-18. Discover one-of-a-kind geometric abstract collage art.