In the middle of artist Lindsey Liss’ studio sits a piece of her art of which she is most proud. She has a very intuitive style which often consists of lenticulars and neon lights. She describes this one as a “think-piece” which she’s put together with the many faces of those who have lost their lives to violence in Chicago. She explained that most of her present work is about social justice:
“I feel like when you turn on the news you hear
‘It was a bloody weekend and there were two killings and 13 people shot.’
These are numbers and you don’t see the faces of the people and families who are being hugely affected. It’s just not right.”
At the height of her career, her art piece “Delusional” is currently featured in the “Bombay Artisan Series”. This particular piece is a mishmash of letters put together from old signs, featuring the American flag. It is also her commentary as to what is going on in the country and whether or not things have gotten worse.
“We’re all just so different. We learn different. Whatever can open people’s eyes is what I’m for. If you open up your ears and your heart maybe you’ll see the light.”
The Bombay Artisan Series has over 8,000 applicants with 14 shows in 14 markets. Liss is one of 100 on-line finalists chosen by judges across North America to be featured in the online competition. Voting for the online competition was open to the public until November 7 on the Bombay Artisan website. The 14 Regional winners and two online winners will then be invited to exhibit their work in December at SCOPE, Miami Beach to compete for the chance to win a cash stipend and a collaboration with Artsy. Artsy is a free online platform designed to connect collectors to art, their search engine and database draw connections and maps relationships among works of art.
“It was so nice to be recognized by them. They’re just really doing so much to support artists.”
Liss has been an artist for 5 years. She also writes poetry and has her own blog. Often times it is her own words and the words of other artists that inspire her art.
“I’m very inspired by music and lyrics…a lot of my stuff is coming from music inspiration.”
Liss is very keen on the idea of artists being able to draw inspiration from other artists.
“There have been times when I’ve done things and people say to me that ‘….this person is knocking off your work.’
Her response in those moments is:
“Are you silly? It’s not like that. They’re not knocking off my work. You can’t really knock off someone’s work. You can pay respect, which is how I look at it.”
That belief goes back to her idea of wanting people to draw their own conclusions from her art without there being a wrong answer to what the piece may mean.
“I would like people to take my words and take my stuff, my collectors and be able to put them together to tell their own stories.”
Liss has been inspired by artists such as Andy Warhol, Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie and John Lennon. Her love for working with neon is in direct correlation with her positive attitude, which was sparked from a Pearl Jam quote she used for one of her pieces:
“I know that I was born and I know that I’ll die, the in-between is mine.”
“It’s so profound. Life is a choice. You wake up every day and you can have negativity or, you can be the light, which quite frankly, I feel like that’s what I’m doing, which is why I like to work with light. I didn’t go to school for art; so everything I’m doing is trial and error or things that friends have taught me or by looking at the process of the people I admire.”
In the future Liss would like to learn to weld and work as a metalsmith.
“I want to learn everything. Nobody should ever stop learning. You gotta keep learning and evolving. I tell my kids that ’I’m little miss loves to be wrong’. I love to be wrong because when you’re wrong and you learn that you’re wrong that’s how you can shift and make changes.”
At the time of our interview Liss was getting ready for an October open house at the “Cornelia Arts Center.” She will also be featured in a dream-themed art show in November in Roscoe Village. She will be taking profits from the three month show and donating them to nonprofit organizations. Liss also has plans for a poetry book and is currently working out the details for shows in Detroit and Nashville.
“I just feel like I’m where I’m ‘sposed to be and I’m doing what I want to do and I think I’m heading in the right direction. I don’t have a set ‘this is what I have to be doing’.
God has a plan for me too and I definitely have my own plan and I just don’t want to get in the way of what is my flow and path. I’m just trying to honor my purpose.”
For more information on Liss visit her website www.
Lindsey Liss' current exhibit "PriceLISS is on display at Essentia in Lincoln Park, located at 2118 N. Halsted Street. Now until January 26th from 6 TO 9 PM.
Creative Credits
- Written by
- Jasmine Smith
- Photography
- Mary Rafferty
