Gladys Morante

Gladys Morante creates vibrant equestrian artwork that celebrates the strength and freedom of horses, though her relationship with these animals began quite differently. Born in Peru in 1963 as the daughter of a professional jockey, she initially held contempt for horses because of her father’s all-consuming dedication to them. At 14, however, she developed an interest in the animals and became a jockey herself.
After high school, Morante found her calling while working as an assistant to a horse portrait artist, who mentored her in underpainting—applying the foundational first layer of paint. Recognizing her natural talent, he encouraged her to attend the School of Arts, where she graduated with honors. Though she considered careers in cartooning and veterinary medicine, her path led to advertising and design before she fully embraced painting horses.
Morante’s inspiration stems from the beauty of equine anatomy and the spiritual qualities horses embody. She spent years teaching herself to capture the animal figure, having studied human anatomy but not horses specifically. Her distinctive technique combines oil paint with textured materials including acrylic, cardboard, sand and pebbles. She typically paints her horses white to convey metaphysical qualities, using warm colors to express vigor and violet tones in their faces to suggest spiritual and celestial traits. Morante is represented by Park West Gallery.