Biography

Eliza Moser is a contemporary realist painter from Springfield, Massachusetts. She is a part of the recent “atelier movement”, a contemporary group of artists whose technique is focused on reviving classical realist methods of painting; her work is at once an homage to classical aesthetics, while simultaneously incorporating elements of contemporary expression.

From an early age, Eliza developed an interest in classical art, beginning her study of traditional realist techniques at the age of 14 under the direction of Angel Academy alumnus Christina Mastrangelo, with whom she trained for five years. In 2012 Eliza’s first oil painting was accepted into the Academic Artists Association's 62nd National Exhibition, receiving the Academic Council Award. She was the youngest artist to ever have been accepted into the annual exhibition at that time. Since then her work has been shown in various local and national exhibitions, such as at the 2013 Alpine Fellowship in Switzerland, and at the Guild of Boston Artists 2018 Regional Exhibition. 

Eliza's desire to learn more about the techniques of the old masters lead her to Florence, Italy, where she enrolled in the Florence Academy of Art to study oil painting. At her graduation ceremony in 2016 her advanced still life was selected for the award Best Still Life of the Year.

After graduation, Eliza returned home, where she began her practice as a professional artist. In 2023, she opened Eliza Moser Fine Art, an Art Studio and Gallery in the downtown of South Hadley, Massachusetts. From here she currently creates her newest bodies of work, as well as providing fine art instruction to the local community.

Artist’s Statement

It is difficult for me to write an artist’s statement, because for me, painting and drawing has been a way of life since I was a child. The intent of my work is really is not very different from that of a child; to communicate, to express my inner world in a way words cannot, or even just to capture something which I found moving. It is merely the tools and methods which have become more sophisticated over the years.  

I think it was that desire to “capture what I see” that lead me to Realism; that natural impulse to make something that looks like what you have seen. That, and a love for classical oil painting, which was nurtured by an upbringing that appreciated tradition. I grew up in a historical neighborhood, in an old Victorian house. My early life was saturated in reading classical literature, admiring classical painting in books or museums, and taking trips to hear the local Symphony. Growing up surrounded by tradition lead me to love and appreciate things which were much too old-fashioned for other people my age.  

My work is rooted in this love for tradition; the result of years of mastering the craft of oil painting and drawing. But there comes a time where you must move beyond merely copying the masters; as the esteemed poet Matsuo Basho is famous for saying: “Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the masters. Seek what they sought.”  

Coming full circle, my objective as an artist today is, as it was as a child, more focused on expressing the inner world rather than the literal one. I enjoy creating allegories from parallels I find in nature; how the shape of falling water can also be mirrored in a woman’s long, flowing hair, for example. The figures in my paintings are usually the embodiment of an idea or an emotion, rather than a narrative story. While occasionally I will paint a narrative, my focus remains on using compositional qualities to bring to light the sitter’s inner world and to suggest a deeper meaning.  
For this reason, I often enjoy branching out from traditional oil painting to simpler mediums such as Conte, graphite or charcoal.  The unique textural qualities of these mediums work well for conveying certain ideas better than oil painting (which can sometimes be too realistic.) And their monochromatic nature takes them a step away from literal realism, allowing for, in my opinion, more playful forms of expression.  

When tradition is passed down over the years, it evolves as each generation makes its own contribution. For me, this means using both craft and innovation together as a means of reaching new artistic heights.