Renée Monaco

Renée Monaco is a New York based oil painter working full-time from her studio in Tribeca.

Her process begins long before the first layer of paint. Renée builds each of her wood panels by hand, then develops the surface through layers of paper applied directly to the wood. The process creates an imperfect, timeworn texture, giving the finished paintings an almost antique quality before oil paint ever touches the surface. No two panels behave exactly the same, making the construction of the work as individual as the painting itself.

At the center of Renée's work are feelings that are often too complicated, contradictory, or profound to process through words. Painting becomes a way of giving those emotions a physical form. Her works are deeply autobiographical, turning experiences from her own life into dreamlike scenes where reality and symbolism exist together.

Animals recur throughout her paintings as representations of people in Renée's life. Their species, posture, proximity, and relationship to the human figure are intentional. They can become protectors, lovers, threats, memories, or different versions of the same person. Each painting holds its own narrative, while together the works form an evolving visual record of relationships, intimacy, vulnerability, loss, and connection.

Rather than explaining every detail, Renée leaves space for the viewer to find their own experience within the story.

Renée lives and works in New York City.

For collectors in the tristate area, original works purchased through the website may be picked up directly from Renée's Tribeca studio in lieu of shipping.