ARTIST BIO

Gina Wolfrum is an award-winning mixed media artist specializing in landscapes and other works that capture the play of light on water, evoke the magic of the natural world, and invite viewers to challenge their preconceptions about nature, beauty, and themselves.

Born in Bryan, Ohio, and raised on a family farm nearby, Gina holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Defiance College and a graduate degree in bank and finance management from the University of Colorado’s Graduate School of Banking. After 15 years in banking, Gina left her corporate career and relocated to a farm in rural Defiance County, Ohio, with her husband and two sons. During this time of transformation, she rediscovered her artistic roots when an interior designer introduced her to the world of decorative art and murals. Building on early art lessons as a teenager, Gina refined her skills by training in studios across the United States. As she built a new career in the fine and decorative arts, she developed a distinctive approach to color, texture, and the integration of natural elements.

As Gina’s fine art began garnering attention from galleries, national exhibitions, and private commissions, she shifted her focus exclusively to mixed media, combining paint with intricately placed stony textures. A defining feature of her art is sparkle. As a child, Gina nearly drowned during a family vacation and vividly remembers being captivated by the shimmering light above the surface as she struggled underwater. Her father rescued her, and that memory of the sparkling light stayed with her. Through her art, Gina channels that surreal moment—both terrifying and beautiful—into works of splendor. Inspired by nature and a profound respect for water, her pieces often incorporate semiprecious gemstones, glass, and organic materials like mica that evoke the sparkle of light on water.

Gina’s work is featured in numerous galleries throughout the Great Lakes Region, shown regularly in Chicago, and included in both private and public collections, including one museum’s permanent collection. Her work is also carried in the Toledo Museum of Art’s Collector’s Corner, a notable honor. Her collectors span the U.S. and Europe, and her solo exhibitions continue to attract patrons. She has received numerous awards throughout her career, including the People’s Choice Award at the Ohio State Fair, the state’s largest exhibition. Gina is also a regular participant in ArtPrize in Grand Rapids, Michigan—one of the nation’s largest art events—where she has been named one of the top 25 artists multiple times.

Her renowned Gemstone Series is highly sought after by collectors and curators and was recently spotlighted on the PBS show Arts IN Focus. Her work has also been featured in several trade journals and publications, including Spotlight 32 Contemporary Art.