My artist name is Isadora Gacel—a name that honors my given identity and the memory of my younger brother, Gacel, who died by suicide after a long battle with schizophrenia. To commemorate him, I legally adopted his name as my middle name, carrying it into every piece I create. As an artist, losing a sibling is like working with and being limited by half of a color palette. It is possible, but you are aware of the potential that is missing. You dip your brush in water obscured by grief, and the bright colors never seem to reach their most vibrant and luminous luster.

My artwork draws from an international upbringing, personal resilience, and a desire to turn lived experience into something that resonates with others. With over twenty-three years of experience as an educator, I have greatly relished teaching Spanish and Art to students from pre-K through high school. In addition to working in independent schools, I had the privilege of teaching Art at Horizons for twenty years—a program deeply aligned with my values.

Prints of Gacel’s work (curated below) are available for purchase, with all proceeds benefiting The Gacel Horizons Student Scholarship Fund, to celebrate his legacy. This endowed fund covers the cost for one student each year to attend the Horizons at New Canaan Country School Summer Program—a six-week academic and enrichment experience for students from Stamford and Norwalk.

Please visit www.horizonskids.org, click “Donate,” and under In Honor / Memory of, write: “My gift is in support of the Gacel Horizons Student Scholarship Fund.”

Thank you for helping to keep his memory alive in a meaningful way.