About the Gallery

Rene Wiley Gallery - Biography

About the Gallery

The René Wiley Gallery is a family owned and operated art gallery on Galveston Island, Texas. Representing award winning oil painters René Wiley, her daughters Rachel Wiley-Janota, Samantha Wiley, and Sarah Thomas, as well as five other accomplished Texas artists. The gallery is open seven days a week and managed by by husband and father, Ben Wiley, and daughter, Rachel Wiley-Janota. The gallery offers originals and fine art prints, as well as paid parking and discounts for previous collectors and interior designers.

René Wiley Gallery represents a collection of fine art from local artists in a beautiful, historic downtown building on Galveston Island, Texas. Artworks include the exclusive representation of René Wiley’s oil paintings, and a variety of original paintings, giclée prints, wood sculpture, textiles and glass work. Wiley’s work uniquely depicts the warm Gulf Coast light on the architecture of the historic East End Galveston, its harbors and wetlands, as well as the local sea-life. She is well known for her signature alla prima style, using bold colors and thick brushstrokes in geometric patterns of oil paint.

René Wiley Gallery also represents a selected few artists, including Rene's daughters, Rachel Wiley-Janota, an award winning visual artist working primarily in mixed media painting and film photography, and Samantha Wiley, an award winning portrait artist and professional photographer, and Sarah Thomas, workin in watercolors. Popular wood sculptor James D. Phillips, known for his striking tree carvings found throughout Galveston’s historical neighborhoods, has reclaimed wood sculptures on display in the gallery, depicting local marine life such as Pelicans, Cranes, Redfish, and Rays. Nationally recognized textile artist Brenda Bunten-Schloesser has several hand-dyed, textile mosaic works of Galveston’s downtown architecture. Beautiful laminated wood bowls by artist Dale Hooks are turned from the “Iked” Galveston trees and other reclaimed wood and glass artist Bill Meek’s gorgeous hammered glass bowls and sculptures are on display.

Rachel Wiley-Janota's exhibition at Rene Wiley Gallery:

About René Wiley

René Wiley graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX in 1983. In years to follow, Wiley won numerous juried exhibitions, was represented by private galleries in Houston, Galveston and Dallas, TX and began teaching plein air and studio workshops. After Hurricane Ike destroyed her studio in 2008, Wiley and her husband decided to exclusively represent her work in Galveston, TX, opening René Wiley Studio-Gallery the following year. Wiley is inspired by the geometric patterns of light, form and shadow that are found in and around her home and her signature use of bold color and thick oil paint is impressive. She captures a variety of local subjects including historic Galveston's magnificent architecture, Texas seabirds and songbirds, and dramatic landscapes of the harbor, estuary marshes and beaches. Wiley can be found painting in her studio almost 60 hours a week, preparing for each new exhibition of paintings that open every six weeks in her gallery. René Wiley is now one of the most prolific, well-known and well-collected oil painters on the Texas Gulf Coast.

René Wiley's Artist Statement

"Galveston has remained a strong influence in my work. I was first attracted to the people enjoying the sand and saltwater, but after moving here a few years ago, the island landscape has inspired many paintings. In the last year, I have paid close attention to the quiet paths that run behind many of the beautiful houses. These humble landscapes are an authentic part of Galveston. The varied patterns of path, building, foliage, and sky combine to create ever changing designs. The gulf coast sky provides the essential light that gives color to ordinary subjects. The atmosphere illuminates the familiar and invites the observer to consider the simple beauty of our world. For me, painting is a form of hospitality."

The René Wiley Gallery is located at the corner of 22nd Street and Postoffice Street, next door to MOD Coffeehouse in historic downtown Galveston, Texas. The Gallery is open 11:00 a.m. to 5 p.m daily. For more information please call 409-750-9077.