Some relationships begin in the most fitting places.
For me, this one began at a wine festival.
I met Phil Skrzekut, founder and painter behind Western Art Gallery in Golden, Colorado, through a shared love of wine, art, and the stories that bring people together.
What started as a simple conversation has grown into something I deeply appreciate: a gallery relationship built on generosity, encouragement, as well as a shared belief that art should feel personal and enhance people’s lives.
Western Art Gallery is located in beautiful Golden, Colorado, and represents award-winning artists with a focus on representational work, including landscapes, animals, architecture, and impressionistic art. More than that, the gallery describes itself as a place to develop relationships with established and emerging artists, which is exactly what I have felt from the beginning. (Western Art Gallery)
From Wine Festival Conversation to Gallery Walls
Meeting Phil felt natural because the conversation moved so easily between wine and art.
That connection matters to me. Much of my work is inspired by wine, whiskey, and the meaningful moments that happen around a glass: the celebrations, the conversations, the quiet pauses, and the memories that stay with us.
Phil understood that right away.
Since then, my relationship with Western Art Gallery has continued to grow. Seeing my paintings featured through the gallery, and even visible right away on their website, has been incredibly meaningful. It is one thing to create work in the studio. It is another to see that work placed where collectors can discover it, experience it, and imagine it in their own spaces.
That is one of the best parts of a strong gallery relationship: it becomes a shared effort. The artist brings the work. The gallery brings the space, the collectors, and the belief that the work belongs there.
A Gallery That Makes Art Feel Welcoming
One of the things I appreciate most about Western Art Gallery is that it feels approachable while still honoring the seriousness of original art.
The gallery highlights traditional oil paintings, sculptures, and commissioned work, and it also provides space for artists to paint and showcase their work. That balance matters. It makes the gallery feel alive, not static.
For collectors, that creates a different kind of experience. You are not just browsing paintings. You are stepping into a place where art is being made, shared, discussed, and enjoyed.
That kind of environment aligns beautifully with what I want my own work to do.
My paintings are not only about bottles, glasses, labels, or pours. They are about connection. They are about the warmth of gatherings, the ritual of a favorite bottle, and the way a painting can hold a memory long after the evening has ended.
June 11: A Special Evening at Western Art Gallery
I am honored that Western Art Gallery is hosting an upcoming art show featuring my work on June 11 from 5–8 PM at 16500 S. Golden Rd., Suite 102 in Golden. The event will include wine and drinks, hors d’oeuvres, an acoustic guitarist, beautiful paintings, and a raffle for a print.
Western Art Gallery also lists the event on its site as Artist Show – Monica Márquez Gatica | June 11, 5–8 PM, which makes this feel even more special as part of the gallery’s event calendar. (Western Art Gallery)
For me, this evening is about bringing people together around the kind of moments that inspire the work in the first place: conversation, hospitality, music, wine, and the joy of seeing paintings in person.
A quiet look inside Western Art Gallery, where several of my wine and spirits-inspired paintings are currently featured.
New Work, Familiar Rituals, and the Stories We Keep
Several of my recent paintings continue to explore the world of wine, whiskey, and spirits through my signature style, Hybrid Fluid Realism.
This technique blends the organic movement of acrylic pouring with the precision of traditional oil painting. It allows the liquid, reflections, glass, and atmosphere to feel alive while still holding the detail and realism collectors connect with. Western Art Gallery’s artist page also describes my work as inspired by wine, whiskey, and life’s memorable moments, with layered color and texture that evoke warmth, gatherings, and a quietly luxurious sense of celebration. (Western Art Gallery)
That description means a lot because it reflects the heart of what I hope the work communicates.
Whether it is a glowing bourbon glass, a wine bottle tied to a special evening, or a scene that reminds someone of a place they love, each painting is meant to feel like more than decoration. It is meant to become part of a room, a memory, and a story.
Why This Gallery Relationship Matters
A strong gallery relationship should feel like a partnership.
It should support the artist, serve the collector, and create something meaningful for the community. That is what I feel with Western Art Gallery.
Phil has been generous with his time, his space, and his encouragement. He has helped create opportunities for my paintings to be seen in a setting where they can truly be experienced. And for me, that is the kind of relationship worth celebrating.
If you are in or near Golden, I hope you will visit Western Art Gallery, explore the artwork, and join us for the June 11 show.
It will be a warm, creative evening filled with art, wine, music, and connection.
And honestly, I cannot think of a better way for this relationship to continue growing.
