Claire Loft: État d'esprit

• Saturday, Jul 25, 2026  6pm - 9pm Art Reception
• Sat, Jul 25, 2026 - Sat, Sep 12, 2026  6pm - 6pm

État d’esprit, “State of Mind” is collection that has grown out of artist Claire Loft's recent travels - an art retreat and a residency experience and reflects both a return to her earliest artistic influences and a continued stretching of her own visual language. Influences such as the colorful landscapes of Claude Monet, the loosely painted still-life compositions of Paul Cezanne, and the interior spaces and vibrant tablescapes of Henri Matisse. These works pay tribute to the artist who first shaped her understanding of painting- artists that she now shares with her own art students and whose paintings remind us that even the simplest subjects can hold extraordinary beauty.

The collection moves between interior and exterior spaces, blending glimpses of home with garden. Thoughtfully arranged still-life with fruit and pattern, an intimate framed view of a garden showpiece, as well as a quiet view from a interior window. The collection celebrates the quiet beauty of daily life white exploring the interplay of color, pattern and space.

The title, État d’esprit, is a French phrase which means ‘State of Mind” and reflects the mood and spaces that guide the collection. Through these paintings, Loft is exploring the sweet preciousness of everyday moments - where home, garden, color and light come together to create a feeling as much as a place.

About the Artist: Claire Loft is a Houston-based artist and educator whose vibrant paintings celebrate beauty, connection and the joy found in everyday moments. Drawing inspiration from Gulf Coast living, travel, gardens and gathered tables, she creates colorful compositions that blend bold color, expressive line and decorative pattern. Her work has been featured in regional and online exhibitions, and her upcoming solo exhibition, État d’esprit, reflects a season of renewed perspective and appreciation for life’s simple pleasures. Alongside her studio practice at Winter Street in Sawyer Yards, Loft teaches art at St. Agnes Academy, where she enjoys encouraging her students to develop their creative voice while also fostering a lifelong appreciation for the arts.