Via Rutkowski 
What started as a simple Instagram tag evolved into the HG team’s fascination with artist Gaby Paterno, who paints flawless works of art on accessories like shoes and handbags — ultimately creating wearable art. We couldn’t wait to learn more about these works of art so we sat down with Gaby to learn more about how it all began. Read on for the story behind Gaby Paterno Art.
Photo Credit: Gaby Paterno Art
How it Started
Photo Credit: Gaby Paterno Art
Gaby Paterno spent the first decade of her life here in Hoboken before moving to Westerly, Rhode Island, when she was 10 years old. The move was sparked to be closer to some of her family members who had immigrated from Italy. As a true city girl at heart, Gaby still has nostalgic memories of her childhood here in Hoboken.
Gaby has been creating since her early years, telling HG that it basically all began from the moment she could hold a pencil. She expressed with gratitude that she grew up in an environment where creativity was always encouraged, both at home, by her mother who is also an artist and former fashion industry worker, and at school, at Calabro Elementary in Hoboken. Gaby shared that even in college, she has been blessed with the most amazing art teachers, joking that she “may have well moved into their classrooms.”
Read More: The Collective in Hoboken: New Makers’ Market, Hat Bar, + Art Studio
Gaby recently graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 2024 with a degree in marketing and fine art. When dreaming about the future, Gaby hopes to have her own fashion company one day where she can continue to create wearable art. Currently, she has already kicked off her own business, Gaby Paterno Art, where she sells both wearable and fine art, customs, and stationery for events, and provides creative marketing services for businesses, focused on website and logo design.
Why Hoboken Art
Photo Credit: Gaby Paterno Art
When chatting with Gaby, of course, we had to reminisce a bit about her time here in Hoboken. We asked Gaby what her favorite part of living in Hoboken was, and she shared fond memories of watching her brother play soccer overlooking the New York City skyline and venturing out to the Hoboken waterfront around sundown to gaze at the sparkling city. And of course, her adventures at the iconic St Ann’s Italian Festival.
The Hoboken and city-specific art started a couple of years ago when Gaby was experimenting with wearable art pieces. She wanted to make something infused with her own personal history backstory: where she was from. Gaby has an affinity for streetwear and cityscapes, and thought what better way to infuse all of her loves together? Her first Hoboken-centric piece was a pair of heels she was making for an event, as she painted them, she remembers specifically looking at photos of murals and other Hoboken landmarks, to get inspiration. We’ll be keeping an eye out for more Hoboken designs.
See More: Montclair Stationary + Vintage Store, Parcel, Moving to Park Street with New Concept
Even though Gaby is a New England girl now, she noted that she and her family are die-hard Yankee fans, which is what inspired her to paint another city-centric piece of wearable art, the Yankee bag. For inspiration, she looked at vintage photos and illustrations. Now, Gaby has some more city-centric pieces in the works, including a pair of Converse.
To keep up with Gaby’s latest creations, locals can find her on Instagram, YouTube, and via her website.
