[1] In 1969, after the youngest of her three children left home, Gambaro, with newfound time and an empty nest, began experimenting with art, first, and only briefly, painting and then discovered a passion for sculpting.
[2][4] Works by Gambaro in stone, clay, copper, wood and bronze often feature female figures and themes of spirituality and reverence for nature.
[2][7] In 1973, Gambaro and her husband purchased a townhouse in Washington, D.C.'s historic Capitol Hill district with the goal of converting its two-story 19th century carriage house into a studio and gallery.
[4] Gambaro envisioned filling a void in the art world by creating the first gallery in the U.S. capital dedicated to works by contemporary Native American artists.
[8] Exhibitions at the Via Gambaro Gallery highlighted contemporary Native American artists using modern techniques and materials with a goal of undermining stereotypes.