If you practice at Elevate, chances are, you’re familiar with the work of artist Claudia Gutierrez. If, like so many of us, you’ve taken a moment during a savasana to appreciate the lush, captivating texture of the moon illustration adorning the wall of the practice room, you have Claudia to thank for that moment of beauty.

Claudia is a Latin-Canadian and hailing from British Columbia. She made Ottawa her home eight years ago when she moved here to study painting and printmaking at the Ottawa School of Art. She draws inspiration from everything from organic shapes and forms to the words of Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Claudia established her own professional arts practice in 2011 and is passionate about working with community partners to realize their creative vision.

When Claudia first started practicing at Elevate Yoga four years ago, she was struck by the connection Elevate instructors drew between the seemingly contradictory ideas of challenge and ease. It is precisely this interplay of hard and soft or bold and fragile—what Claudia calls the “power of gentleness”—that animates so much of her own work. So when Lizl approached Claudia to create something beautiful for the studio, Claudia was only too happy to oblige.

When not on the mat or working in her own arts practice, Claudia can be found cuddling with the cats she fosters through the Ottawa Stray Cat Rescue.

P.S. If you want to own Claudia’s beautiful work, be sure to check out her stuff at Society 6.