For some of us, spending time alone is an incredibly challenging task, with nothing but the sound of silence and our thoughts to keep us company. Solitude can be scary, but for Nicoletta Salomon, a professor at The American University of Florence (AUF), solitude spurs creativity.

Out of the tranquil solitude Salomon found while painting came Epoché, a collection of works that went on display at the Palazzi Community Center (PCC) on Oct. 17. Students and faculty from AUF, as well as the Florentine public, were invited to celebrate Salomon’s artistic strides. Attendees gathered to hear her speak about her work, take in the collection, and write about their impressions of the paintings.

Each piece in Epoché, a term from ancient Greek philosophy that means “suspension of judgment,” is a captivating visual experience. The abstract paintings were made with acrylics, yet the fluidity of color and texture nearly convinces the viewer that Salomon used watercolors. Neutral shades blend effortlessly into the pockets of sky blue and rich umber on the canvases, producing a marble-like effect. As viewers take in Salomon’s collection, they’ll notice that the paintings also achieve the appearance of water, clouds, or even a misty sky.

The light brushwork and delicate integration of primary colors on these canvases are some of the collection’s defining features. While Salomon’s previous work put vibrant colors front and center, Epoché finds its strength in subtlety.

“One might argue that now, the colors have disappeared, but they have not; they are embedded in the mixture,” Salomon says. “And the fact that (the colors blend) gave me a sense of peace, a sense of meaning, a sense of being centered.”

That peaceful mindset was reflected in the gallery space itself. Avery Tupa, a gallery assistant intern who helped prepare the PCC’s space ahead of the exhibition, explains that as she learned more about Salomon’s paintings, it was clear that a simple, yet elegant setup was most fitting for Epoché.

“We did try to reflect the space that Nicoletta was in while creating these pieces in the gallery space, which is why it’s so minimalistic,” Tupa says.

Accompanying Tupa at Epoché’s opening was gallery assistant intern Amanda Prince. She also helped transform the space for the collection’s time on display, emphasizing the key element of simplicity in the setup as well. She recalls how Salomon told her and Tupa about the almost meditative state she went into while painting, simply listening and embracing the solitude. Prince says she found Salomon’s creative process “very inspiring.”

“I think that’s such an interesting process,” Prince says. “When I make my art, I like to listen to music, I like to have my distractions. But learning about her process was very informative in the way we created the space, very minimal, very absent of distraction.”

Ahead of Salomon’s short speech at the Oct. 17 opening, the gallery assistant interns spoke to the attendees, giving insights about both the collection and the artist behind it. Juliet Farr, a student in FUA-AUF’s curatorial class, shared the microphone with Tupa and Prince, contributing to the remarks on Epoché. While Farr’s additions to the event differed slightly from the gallery assistant interns’, her skill set and passion for curating allowed her to give the gallery space several unique touches.

“Externally from this, I am the educational aide at the Arizona State University Art Museum, so I created all of the gallery guides for them,” Farr explains. “I wanted to create a gallery guide for Nicoletta. I also helped her create a playlist, as well as put together her journal, where the audience can interact by writing down their thoughts on Epoché.”

Fueled by the hard work of the team that prepared the gallery, the FUA-AUF students who ushered in attendees, and of course, the artist whose mesmerizing paintings were on display, Epoché’s opening night was a success. And as the evening went on, more and more handwritten notes about the collection appeared in Salomon’s open journal, placed at the gallery entrance.

For three weeks after its Oct. 17 opening, Epoché will grace the walls of the PCC, allowing even more visitors to fall in love with the collection. For those who meander around the gallery space to admire her paintings, Salomon suggests viewing her works with the heart instead of the mind.

“I would like them to free themselves from the constraint of understanding what these paintings are or represent or express,” Salomon says. “And just being in front of them like they would be in front of a stone, of a tree, of a light or shade cast somewhere, and to just acknowledge how they feel and bring this experience back home. The experience of concentration... without being in search for meaning.”

Epoché will be on display until November 13, 2024. Stop by the Palazzi Community Center, located at via Ricasoli, 21 to experience the exhibition through your own eyes. Coming soon to Corridoio Fiorentino, on Thursday, November 14, Grace Lambert Phillips' Grand Tour Souvenirs - Notes From A Traveler Photo Series will debut. Reserve your spot today.