Monte Gerard’s artistic journey is as unconventional as it is inspiring. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, and raised in nearby Donelson, her early years were shaped by gardens, cattle, and the quiet rhythms of country life—an influence that still echoes in the layered textures of her work today.

Gerard began painting in her late sixties after a successful career in radio station management and real estate in Naples, Florida. With a B.S. from the University of Tennessee and an MBA from the University of Notre Dame, she entered retirement looking for a creative outlet—what started as a hobby quickly grew into a passionate and thriving artistic practice.

Her training includes the Milan Art Institute and Nicholas Wilton’s Creative Visionary Program, along with continued study under respected contemporary artists, including Erin Hanson. Gerard’s work is defined by expressive color and a distinctly abstract sensibility, focusing on people, landscapes, and florals drawn from her own photography. Through unexpected color, mixed media, and layered techniques, she builds depth, texture, and subtle narrative details that reward close inspection.

A member of the Art Center of Bonita, Gerard exhibits widely in Southwest Florida and currently shows over 20 works at Coco Art Gallery in Estero. Her work has earned recognition including First Place for Hot Mess and Third Place for City Blues in a Pop Art exhibition. For Gerard, art is both storytelling and discovery—proof that creativity can ignite at any stage of life.