Artist Sandra Bottinelli prepares to open Bottinelli Fine Art after flood devastation, bringing Abstract Realism—and renewed purpose—to the River Arts District, as the April 2025 Cover Artist

Sandra Bottinelli doesn’t just paint what she sees—she paints what she feels.

Her Abstract Realism style has developed over nearly 30 years of refining oil techniques, studying in Europe, and engaging deeply with the emotional weight of her subjects. Bottinelli has painted professionally for nearly 30 years. She uses traditional oil techniques to create her Abstract Realism style, engaging with various subjects by focusing on how each piece connects emotionally rather than literally. Based in Asheville, North Carolina, she earned her BFA from the University of Michigan. She studied further in Spain, where time in Salamanca and Barcelona shaped how she approached color, form, and composition.

She was a resident artist at Wedge Studios in Asheville’s River Arts District (RAD) for ten years before co-founding Modern Muse Gallery in 2022. Eventually, she became sole proprietor of the gallery, a venture cut short by Hurricane Helene’s destruction in 2024. Undeterred, Bottinelli has announced the forthcoming opening of Bottinelli Fine Art in late Spring 2025 

Her portfolio spans animals, figures, landscapes, and abstract compositions, with works like “Vibing”—a whimsical oil painting of a duck—demonstrating her ability to balance playfulness with technical precision. Those interested in Sandra Bottinelli’s work or in commissioning pieces may visit sandrabottinelli.com or follow @bottinelli_fine_art for updates on her new gallery and latest projects.

Interview with Sandra Bottinelli

RRM: Congratulations on opening a new gallery, Bottinelli Fine Art, in the River Arts District (RAD) later this Spring. What does this move represent for you personally and artistically, and how do you envision the space contributing to the area’s creative community?

Sandra Bottinelli: Rebuilding after the storm offers a new beginning to the RAD, Asheville, and for me and my work. Everything is a cycle, and this is where we find ourselves right now. It’s a new beginning in so many ways. I mean, we need artists in the RAD! That’s what the RAD is. I am bringing myself and a group of artists into the space to help fill this need. I foresee this happening more and more as the RAD rebuilds. 

RRM: I notice animals are a recurring theme in many of your abstract realism paintings. I’m curious—do you choose them for their symbolic meanings, emotional connections, or simply because of your love for them? 

Sandra Bottinelli: Animals are endless inspiration. They come in so many shapes and forms: fur, feathers, beaks, colors, patterns, all of it. 

The characteristics and behaviors, plus the essence of any animal, can be compared to facets of a human character. Each one of us has the characteristics of one or more animals. I have a friend who reminds me of an eagle–the ways he moves, his features, and some of his mannerisms.

I find this intriguing. On the other hand, I’ve never met an animal with an ego–which is, I believe, the biggest difference between them and us.

RRM: The loss of your work and gallery (Gallery Modern Muse in Riverview Station in the RAD) during Hurricane Helene must have been devastating. How has this experience changed how you view art, loss, and the creative process? Do you see your new gallery as a form of resurgence or just getting back to work? 

Sandra Bottinelli: The flood was catastrophic and devastating for everyone. It was tough to feel and process. However, as an experience in my life, I am thankful for it. It has renewed my sense of creativity and purpose, and I’m grateful for that. There is new life breathing into my work. 

I am currently sharing studio space with a fellow artist, and that’s been great. His generosity in offering the space reminds me of what an amazing community of artists we have here in Asheville. I’m also using this time to experiment and remember why I paint in the first place..

I am so grateful to do this for a living and do it with other artists. The storm proved that things can be taken from us at any moment.

RRM: The piece chosen for this month’s cover features a group of rising phoenixes, a symbol often associated with resurgence. While it’s a motif that’s been widely overused, your interpretation makes it quite apropos. What does the painting mean to you regarding your art and rebuilding a new gallery with new artists, a new name, and new works?

Sandra Bottinelli: The fully formed bird in the center of the painting touches the sun and becomes the one burning on the left. We are in the stage of the bird on the right, rebuilding, restarting, regenerating. At least, that’s how I see it.

RRM: As of this interview in early March 2025, you’re still seeking a few emerging artists to join Bottinelli Fine Art. What styles or artistic approaches are you most excited to showcase, and how do you envision the gallery’s direction? In what ways will Bottinelli Fine Art build on the legacy of Modern Muse Gallery, and how will it differ?

Sandra Bottinelli: Art expresses a feeling derived from and simultaneously forms our unique perspective. Therefore, we are all artists.

Experiencing art from different artists—paintings, music, food, or fashion—builds a shared tapestry of perspectives. It allows us to see the world through each other’s eyes, fostering understanding and unity.

Bottinelli Fine Art will be similar to Modern Muse in that we will have a group of working artists on site. But I will also showcase other artists. Because the space is smaller than Modern Muse, I can only show a handful of artists. I am looking for work that is alive, new, and exciting and will offer visitors a unique, curated experience. I am looking for primarily two-dimensional work but will have some space for smaller, pedestaled three-dimensional works. 

RRM: As someone passionate about the River Arts District as both an artist and a gallery owner, I’d love to hear your thoughts on where you see the district heading this year. Is there anything special you’d like to share about what the River Arts District means to Asheville and its vibrant creative community?

Sandra Bottinelli: I have been in the RAD for 14 years now. It has been part of my life and community since I moved here, and I cannot imagine Asheville without it. 

The growth, especially over the last few years, has been inspiring! Asheville and the artistic community are all about growth and creativity, so I do not doubt that the RAD will rebuild and be even better than before. As artists, we are passionate and determined to make our dreams happen.