Gaby Acosta: Brushstrokes of Emotional Well-being Through Art

Interview with visual artist Gaby Acosta.

@gaby.arte_bienestarmental

We had the honor of speaking with Gaby Acosta, an artist who has managed to merge her two great passions: painting and mental health advocacy. Through her hyperrealistic portraits and her focus on positive psychology, Gaby has found a unique way to convey a message of well-being and fulfillment.

In her work, light, color, and harmony come together to create peaceful atmospheres, reflecting her commitment to art as a vehicle for emotional healing and personal growth.

Below, we explore her vision of art and its connection to well-being.

EAM: Gaby, in recent years you’ve managed to combine two major passions: painting and mental health. How did the connection between art and the promotion of well-being sciences come about?

Gaby: I started painting and studying the science of happiness and mental health at the same time and for the same reason. After 30 years devoted to my first passion, horses, I felt that my cycle in that world was coming to an end. My body told me the same: the pain in my knees led to surgery that kept me in bed for two months. For someone always active, it was torture. That’s when I truly turned to painting and created my first piece I felt proud of. Around the same time, I discovered a course on the science of happiness with Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar. I decided to get certified as a Happiness Trainer and set a goal to pay for the course by selling my paintings so it wouldn’t impact our family finances—and that’s what I did.

Once I finished my certification and began my career as a painter, I thought I had to choose between art and mental health. In an artist coaching session, my advisor helped me see there was no dilemma: “As an artist, the most important thing is to have a subject that defines you—and you clearly have one.” That’s when I realized mental health, scientifically grounded happiness, and my other passions were the raw materials of my work, my muse, and my inspiration.

EAM: What motivated you to leave horseback riding—a sport that gave you so much—and dedicate yourself fully to painting and the neuroscience of well-being?

Gaby: I started riding at 11, first in charro escaramuza, where I won several state championships and was once a national runner-up. Then I competed in reining, became certified as an equine therapist, and in recent years, focused on barrel racing. Horses are beautiful and I still love them, but riding is physically demanding and carries significant risk. At 12, 15, even 30, I didn’t notice it—but at 40, and as a mother, the risk was always on my mind. I stopped enjoying it and became obsessed with achievements. The knee surgery made me see it was time to close that chapter and start a new one.

EAM: Your work features beautiful and luminous hyperrealistic portraits, but also some expressionist strokes. How would you define your artistic style, and what are you trying to convey with this fusion of techniques?

Gaby: I'm in a critical stage, searching for my own style. I’m drawn to hyperrealism, but just painting reality doesn’t fully satisfy me—I want to add my personal touch, my emotions, passions, and a hidden message. Even though I haven’t completely found it yet, I enjoy the exploration process.

EAM: As an ambassador of well-being neuroscience, how does your knowledge of positive psychology influence your creative process and the messages you wish to convey through your art?

Gaby: What we allow into our minds is fundamental. My art reflects what I wish for myself and for others. I want my pieces to inspire and help create a better world—both externally and internally. I believe in imagination and that we can create our own reality. My work is designed to positively influence the lives of collectors and offer a vision of a more beautiful world.

EAM: What role does mental health play in your personal life, and how is that influence reflected in your paintings?

Gaby: Mental health has been a constant in my life—both in my own experiences and those of my loved ones. I believe it’s our responsibility to care for our minds regularly and non-negotiably. That mindset is reflected in my work, which shows my commitment to mental well-being.

EAM: What do the honest smiles and peaceful atmospheres you create in your characters mean to you? How do you convey those states of fulfillment in your compositions?

Gaby: I've taken care to preserve my innocence, which has made me optimistic even in difficult times. My paintings reflect that light, happiness, and human connection, which I see as my greatest source of inspiration and motivation. What I value most is the genuine connection with other living beings.

EAM: We know your work is influenced by artists such as Fabiano Milani, Torsten Wolber, and Rosso Emerald. How do these influences show up in your style and technique?

Gaby: I admire many artists, and these are just a few. Fabiano Milani taught me the technique I use most in hyperrealism, Torsten Wolber inspires me to be more free in my painting, and Rosso Emerald encourages me to mix hyperrealism with abstraction—something I’m trying to achieve in my own way.

EAM: Through your art, how do you aim to communicate the positive psychology of authors like Tal Ben-Shahar, Nazareth Castellanos, and Brené Brown?

Gaby: All three have deeply transformed my personal life, and in some way, I aim to develop a painting style that can tell stories—stories of transformation inspired by their teachings. That’s why I seek a way to blend realism with fantasy, to share those journeys.

EAM: Your work makes predominant use of light. What does light represent to you in your paintings?

Gaby: Light represents goodness, optimism, wisdom, and joy. However, I believe that part of human growth is also embracing our shadow. In my upcoming works, I want to show that light and shadow coexist and that both are necessary for learning and growth.

EAM: How would you describe the creative process behind your works? What emotions and thoughts accompany you when you’re in front of the canvas?

Gaby: It always starts with something that moves me deeply. Even though I feel excited while painting, I believe more in discipline and consistency than in waiting for inspiration. Inspiration comes while you’re working—and commitment is key.

EAM: As an artist and emotional well-being advocate, what message do you hope people take away when viewing your work?

Gaby: I want people to understand that what they see every day really does affect their life. My art seeks to bring beauty, hope, motivation, and optimism into their daily lives.

EAM: Finally, how do you imagine the evolution of your art in the future? What projects or exhibitions are coming up, and what are your artistic aspirations?

Gaby: I’m in search of a personal style that allows me to tell stories through realism. My next project is to create two interconnected works that will illustrate a book based on my learnings and personal studies, which I’ll present in conferences and exhibitions. I’m very excited about this project!

We sincerely thank Gaby Acosta for sharing her vision and passion for art and well-being with us. Her ability to merge these two worlds reminds us of the power art has to heal and to promote an emotionally healthy life. We’re confident that her work will continue to inspire many through her beautiful compositions and her message of fulfillment and balance.

Copyright Gaby Acosta / Title: Gozo / Medium: Oil on canvas / Dimensions: 90cm x 70cm.

“Gozo” is a work that masterfully celebrates the essentials of life with technical skill and emotional sensitivity.

A wordless, moving scene

“Gozo” portrays a child laughing during a bath, his body covered in water and his face lit up with an expression that says it all. The bright eyes and open mouth in mid-laughter radiate such pure happiness that it’s impossible not to smile when looking at it. The abstract background, in warm tones and soft textures, creates a dreamlike atmosphere—as if the environment itself were also celebrating that moment of fulfillment. The composition, while seemingly simple, is full of intention and balance.

“Gozo” by Gaby Acosta: The art of celebrating the essential

In a world where contemporary art often leans toward the conceptual, critical, or provocative, Gaby Acosta’s Gozo arrives like a breath of light. This painting stands out not only for its technical mastery but also for its ability to convey a universal emotion: genuine joy.

While children’s portraiture has historically been explored in various styles and contexts, Gaby Acosta offers a fresh, optimistic, and deeply human perspective. In Gozo, the extraordinary lies within the ordinary: a child at play, laughing freely, soaked in water, unaware of the outside world. The spontaneity of the gesture, the overflowing laughter, and the vital energy radiating from the child’s face lend the piece a heartfelt authenticity. It’s a common scene, yet captured with such sensitivity that it becomes a unique expression of pure joy.

Acosta’s technical mastery is immediately evident. With an execution that borders on photorealism, she renders complex textures like wet skin, airborne droplets, and the glow on the face with remarkable precision. The use of color, lighting, and the contrast between the abstract background and the hyperrealistic figure provide both visual depth and emotional richness. Technique here is not about showing off—it serves the emotion. Everything in this work is designed to move the viewer, not just impress them.

In times of anxiety, information overload, and emotional disconnection, Gozo serves as a visual reminder of what truly matters. Gaby Acosta embraces authentic happiness, innocence, and full presence. Instead of complicating the message, she distills it with skill: she shows that fulfillment can be found in the simplicity of the present moment. Her painting does not deny the challenges of the world, but rather offers a hopeful and emotionally nourishing response.

"Gozo" is much more than a child’s portrait. It is a celebration of life, an invitation to reconnect with simplicity, and a testament to the fact that art—when created with technique, intention, and heart—has the power to heal, move, and endure.