Artisans' Guild Gallery

Ana Varela received her Bachelor in Fine Arts in ceramics from the University of Florida in 1985. As a student, her work was selected for participation in the "Florida Student Crafts Exhibition". Later, she was awarded first place in ceramics in the Art'85 In the Village Festival presented by the Gainesville Fine Arts Association. Since then, her work has been presented in several fine galleries and exhibitions. She has won many top awards throughout the Southeast. "My imagery is based on people, animals and things I come in daily contact with. A reflection of my external observations coupled with some internal vision: people I meet, my neighbor's cats, the cashier from Publix, the lizards that crawl around my studio, tree frogs that cling to the kitchen window at night. These images are personal, but hopefully also universal and promote a closeness to the earth."