Photography: Erin Tufts Cartier
This fall, Art at Argo’s welcomes the captivating work of Abby Elise, also known as Oiseau. Her exhibit, on view September 1 – December 31, highlights expressive florals and landscapes that balance impressionistic energy with classical detail.
We invite you to join us for the opening reception on Saturday, September 6, from 1–3 pm to meet Abby, experience her artistry firsthand, and celebrate the arrival of this beautiful new exhibit.
Woven throughout the exhibit are deeply emotional works created between 2024 and 2025, including:
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Une Journée à Paris (2024): An atmospheric scene that beautifully captures the quiet elegance and timeless charm of Paris.
Une Journée à Paris
- Violet Dreams (2024): A luminous garden scene where soft light breaks through shadow, illuminating vibrant violets and rose-pink blossoms. The blurred edges between light and dark invite viewers into a dreamlike space – quiet, contemplative, and full of gentle mystery.
Violet Dreams
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Other expressive works such as Just Dandy and Forefront of Happiness reflect personal narratives, emotional depth, and Abby’s commitment to storytelling through color, texture, and symbolism.
Abby’s creative journey has taken her from Columbus to the South of France, painting among the same hills and light that inspired generations of artists. This brought a new luminosity and sense of atmosphere to her work, which now carries both intimacy and expansiveness.
In addition to her studio practice, Abby is also known for her live painting, creating original works during weddings and special occasions. With brush in hand, she captures the spirit of a moment as it unfolds—transforming fleeting experiences into cherished heirlooms.
Her paintings often flow past the edges of the canvas, spilling onto ornate frames in a way that makes artwork and structure inseparable. This signature style, paired with her love of storytelling, creates pieces that feel both timeless and deeply personal.
Artist’s Exhibition Statement:
“This body of work was painted across two countries, shaped by the rhythms of Provence and completed here in Columbus. The florals began in France during a summer residency where I immersed myself in the colors, textures, and light of a new environment. Back in Columbus, I continued them in my signature way—extending the paintings onto the frames so that the imagery moves beyond its boundaries, mirroring the way my own life now stretches between two places. Each piece holds the memory of where it began, and the grounding of where it was brought to life.
This exhibition marks a meaningful threshold: the moment I begin building a second home in France while continuing to grow my roots in Columbus. These paintings are not about leaving one place behind, but about expanding the idea of home itself. They carry my experience of France—the joy, the discovery, the stillness and bloom of it all—while remaining deeply tied to the city that has nurtured my practice. My hope is that, as you move through this collection, you feel the beauty of inhabiting both spaces at once, and the way art can hold two worlds together.
Follow along with my journey and view available work at www.oiseau.co or on Instagram @oiseau.co.”
-Abby Elise
Since 2011, Robert Argo has brought Art at Argo’s to life as a celebration of creativity and community. What started as a way to share our love of art has grown into a vibrant program featuring quarterly exhibits and an ongoing display of sculptor Alfred Tibor’s work—all designed to support and showcase local artists.
