LISA KELLNER (American b. 1965-)Painter I make paintings and sculptural constructions about the environment, societal constructs and how we occupy space. Using a reductive language and an intuitive approach, my work explores dimension, place and systems of mark making. I’m interested in forging spatial relationships between the physical and the intangible. Inspired by nature, history and the spaces humans create for themselves, my paintings conflate place and structure with memory and perception. A blending occurs; consolidating all into one.This ongoing series of paintings, Land and Sea, begins with the initial, yet enduring glimpse of the natural world. A walk through a stand of trees or an open sea view vista becomes a grid like system of color, shape and line. Chosen colors are inspired by up close studies of the most intricate spaces found in nature: fungi growing on a rock or the way the light hits a wave at just the right moment. In each painting, I am trying to capture the present moment. I see the present as a layering of history translated as color and gesture, layer upon layer until the canvas feels complete.Sometimes an underpainting is left visible on the canvas. Other times, the underpainting is concealed leaving only a hint of what came before. In the studio, these paintings are limitless configurations to explore, much as nature itself provides unlimited ways of being experienced. Employing elements of minimal abstraction, grid formations, color field and landscape, these paintings seek a sense of balance to impart an immersive calmness and quiet euphoria. Particular constraints are employed in Land & Sea, in order to focus on essential connections between form, color and composition.Each part of the painting directly responds to the spaces surrounding it. The intention is for these relationships to convey a certain feeling or meaning within the viewer. For me, these paintings are an exercise in attaining harmony and tension between what is known and what is possible. Ultimately, the primary concern here is how the process of painting itself becomes the subject and mode of communicating the ineffable.Lisa Kellner’s paintings and sculptural constructions have been exhibited throughout the United States and internationally. Her work can be found in private residences and commercial spaces in the United States, Europe and Japan. Exhibiting institutions include the Bellevue Arts Museum (WA), The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (NY), the Brooklyn Arts Council (NY), the Weatherspoon Museum (NC), the Islip Art Museum, Washington Project for the Arts and the Muscarelle Museum of Art (VA), among others. She has created site-responsive installations for institutions including the Cornell Fine Arts Museum (FL), the Bellevue Arts Museum (WA), Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Swing Space (NY), Brooklyn Arts Council (NY), the Center for Maine Contemporary Art (ME), Lehman College Art Gallery (NY) and the Target Gallery at the Torpedo Factory (VA). In addition, Kellner has worked with galleries such as Ascent Contemporary (NY), Project 4 (DC), BravinLee Projects (NY), JoAnne Artman (LA), Granite Gallery and Artemis Gallery, both in Maine. Kellner’s work has been reviewed and mentioned in publications including The New York Times, The Boston Globe and Sculpture Magazine.Lisa has received several awards including the New Media Invitational from the Target Gallery, DC and was nominated a Joan Mitchell Emerging Artist semi-finalist. Recent curated exhibitions include Materiality: The Matter of Matter at the Center for Maine Contemporary Art (ME), Lost and Found at the Umbrella Arts Center (CT), Nature Triumphs at Five Points Arts Center (CT) and the Granite Gallery Invitational (ME). Lisa has collaborated on projects with organizations including Artspace, NY. She has worked with various artists on projects such as the USPS Art Project and curated an exhibition with artist Huguette Despault May entitled, What Matters Most. Lisa continues her interview series, Five Questions for Artists, that focuses on artists’ thoughts about why and how they make their work. She is currently working on a monograph in conjunction with a series of new paintings that will be exhibited at Carver Hill Gallery, Camden, Maine, in 2023.Solo Exhibitions:2023 Granite Gallery, Tenants Harbor, ME2022 Precipice of Unknowing, Mechanics Hall, ME2020 I Dream in Layers, The Exhibit, NZ2019 Works on Mylar, Buy Some Damn Art, Brooklyn, NY2018 Surface Consumption, Gallery 263, Cambridge, MA2016 Always into Now; a Painting in Space, Target Gallery, Alexandria, VA2014 Silent Space; Ward Center for Contemporary Art, Petersburg,VAChamber One; Ascent Contemporary, New York, NY2013 Bringing on the Aither; Hunt Gallery; Mary Baldwin College, Staunton, VA2011 Love is a Place; BravinLee Programs, New York,NYSkin Deep, Miles Wide; Cecelia Coker Bell Gallery, Coker College, SC2009 Suspended Presence, Urban Institute of Contemporary Art, MISurfacing Beneath, Brooklyn Arts Council Gallery, Brooklyn, NY2008 Inner Urban Sanctum, Providence Art Windows, Providence, RI2006 Plain Matters, Quirk Gallery, Richmond, VAGroup Exhibitions:2022 Today I...Gallery Mui, Virtual exhibitionHoliday Exhibition, Artemis Gallery, MELost and Found, Curated by Jessica Straus, Umbrella Arts Center, MANature Triumphs, Curated by Judith McElhone, Five Points Arts Center, CTGranite Gallery Invitational, Curated by Ron Crusan, Granite Gallery, Tenants Harbor, MEGroup Exhibition, July, Artemis Gallery, ME2021 Breeze at Dawn, Lodger Gallery2020 Quarantine Folk, Calico Brooklyn, NYLush, Hush, curated by Donna McNeil, Center for Maine Contemporary ArtUS Artists, Copelouzos Family Art Museum, GreeceUSPS Art Project, Pelham Art Center, NYCollaborative exhibition with Artspace, Curated by Artspace, New York, NY2019 Subversive Stitch, Curated by Kimberly Reinagel, WhiteboxHarlem, NYOutside the Lines, Post Office Gallery, Truro, MASquare Fair, White Space Gallery, New York, NY2018 Brooklyn Artists, J Collabo, Brooklyn, NY2017 Materiality: The Matter of Matter, Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Rockland, ME2016 The Space Between, JoAnne Artman Gallery, Laguna Beach, CAScribing the Void; ODETTA Gallery, Brooklyn, NY2015 Access Art; Brooklyn Arts Council, Brooklyn, NY2014 Holiday Fair; Ascent Contemporary, New York, NY2013 ADAPTATION; Project 4 Gallery; Washington, DC2012 2012 Biennial; Curators Suzette McAvoy, Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Rockport, MESpace Invaders, Curator, Karin Bravin, Lehman College Art Gallery, Bronx, NYThe Mysterious Content of Softness; Curator, Stefano Catalani; Cornell Fine Arts Museum, FL_____Scape; Curator, Susan Main; The Metropolitan Center for Visual Arts, Rockville, MD 2011 In Season, Project 4 Gallery, Washington, DCThe Mysterious Content of Softness, Curator Stefano Catalani, Bellevue Arts Museum, WA2010 Art on Paper 2010 Biennial Exhibition, Curated by Xandra Eden; Weatherspoon Museum,Greensboro, NC7th Annual Transformer Silent Auction & Benefit, Transformer Gallery, Washington, DCMultiplied Within, Curated by Sky Kim, Able Fine Art, New York, NYUnraveling Tradition, 516 Arts, Albuquerque, NM Let There Be White, Birey Gallery, PAEmergence, Curated by Brooke Hine, Bahdeebahdu, Philadelphia, PADrawn To It: The Art of Drawing, Amherst Street Gallery, New Hampshire Institute of Art, NH2009 Phantasma, Tarryn Teresa Gallery, Los Angeles, CAThe Mansion Project, Paul Robeson Gallery, Rutgers University, Newark, NJA Proposition Ate My Marriage, LMCC Swing Space Residency, New York, NYThe Body Politic, Brooklyn Arts Collective, The Jungle, Brooklyn, NYClamoring to Become Visible, Brooklyn Arts Council, Brooklyn NYFluid Identity, Howard County Center for the Arts, Ellicott City, MDPostcards from the Edge, Visual Aids at Metro Pictures, New York, NY2008 Square Foot Show: Election ‘08, Art Gotham, New York, NYMaterial Meditation, New Art Center, Newton, MA (catalog)Boston Young Contemporaries, 808 Gallery, Boston, MAMFA Thesis Exhibition, AIB Gallery, Boston, MA (catalog)Here and Now, Transformer Gallery, Washington, DCExintrinsic, Gallery 5, Richmond, VAContemporary Fiber, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CTBeneath The Skin, Mock Magazine Covers, Perfect 8 Magazine, Chashama, New York, NYI Dream of Genomes, Islip Art Museum, Islip, New York2007 9 x 10, WWP Gallery, Washington, DCArt on the Gwynns Falls Trail 2007, Leakin Park, Baltimore, MDStrictly Painting, McLean Project for the Arts, McLean, VARadius 250, Artspace, Richmond, VASaturated, Heinemann Myers Gallery, Bethesda, MDWPACorcoran Centerpiece Project, Corcoran Museum of Art, Washington, DC2006 Open Call/Size Matters, RHYS Gallery, Boston, MAConversions, WPA/Corcoran at The Ellipse Arts Center, Arlington, VAfor a(n) relation(s), ADA Gallery, Richmond, VASpring Fieldwork, Gallery 5, Richmond, VAPaper Trail, Gallery 6, Rockaway Beach, NYThe Unlikely Target, Redux Contemporary Art Center, Charleston,SC2005 Open Studios Summer Residency, School of Visual Arts, New York, NYFlux Redux, Art6 Gallery, Richmond, VAThe National Arts Program, Richmond Science Museum, Richmond, VAAmerican Drawing Biennial 8, Muscarelle Museum of Art, Williamsburg, VANew Work, Pots and Prints, Virginia Museum of Fine Art, Richmond, VAArtworks All Media Show, Artworks, Richmond, VAMixed Media Show, Visual Arts Gallery, New York, NY2004 Artworks All Media Show, Artworks, Richmond, VA2003 Mixed Media Show, Hewlett Library Gallery, Hewlett, NY2000 Limbs, School of Visual Arts, New York, NYA Dungeon of Frescos, Accademia Cerite, Ciri, ItalyTorsos, School of Visual Arts, New York, NYReviews, Interviews and Articles:2022 New Community TV Artist Talk: Lost and Found, The Umbrella Arts CenterVirtual Artist Talk, Nature Triumphs, Five Points Gallery, Torrington, CT2021 Maine Arts Journal, Summer IssueCurator’s Wishlist, Josephine-May Bailey, Rise Art2018 Maryam Raad, Boston Hassle; November2017 Jamie Rogers, Artist2Day United Kingdom; January2016 Dorothe Swinkels, Textiel Plus Magazine; December.Mark Jenkins; In the Galleries; Lisa Kellner, The Washington Post, May 13.Eric Hope; East City Art Reviews: Always Into Now at The Torpedo Factory, East City Art; Apr 28.2012 Fiber Art; The Mysterious Content of Softness at Cornell Fine Arts Museum, Orlando ArtsMagazine, pp 32-33, Nov / Dec 2012.Diane McEnaney, The Mysterious Content of Softness, OnView Magazine, p52, August / Sept.Claudia Rousseau, Exhibits play with toys and ‘____scapes’, Gazette.Net, July 10..2011 Joey Veltkamp, The Mysterious Content of Softness/BAM, Best of, A Northwest-centric Art Blog, Mar.Deborah Stone, BAM Highlights Unique Quality of Fiber in New Exhibit, The Woodinville Weekly.Barbara Steadman, Skin Deep, Miles Wide’ Art Exhibition to Open at Coker College, Coker College.Rachel Hodin, BravinLee to Showcase Latest Avant-Garde Works, New York NearSay, August 31. 2009Molly Kimelman, Weighty topics, The Grand Rapids Press, December 17.Catherine Bui, Interviews: Lisa Kellner, Title Magazine, Issue No. 4.Mike Giuliano, Five local artists conspire to reveal ‘Identity’, Howard County Times, Feb. 12.Esther Kim, Q & A with Artist Lisa Kellner, Maryland Art Place On- line Newsletter, Winter.Kriston Capps, Reviews: Washington, DC ‘Here and Now’, Transformer Gallery, Sculpture Magazine,January/February.2008 Chris Bergeron, Living in a ‘Material’ whirl – Six artists ‘Meditate’ on everyday stuff, The MetrowestDaily News, October 5.Denise Taylor, Exploring The Material World, Boston Globe West, Sept. 18.Bob Thayer, Not Just Another Dive, The Providence Journal, Sept 16.Hope Stockman, Current Galleries; Material Meditation, ArtScope, Sept/Oct ed.Maura Judkis, “Closed Call: Transformer wanted to comment on urban change. It came sooner thanexpected, Washington City Paper, May 20.Benjamin Genocchio, Looking into the World of Genomes and Seeing an Unreliable Future, The NewYork Times, March 2.Jennifer Landis, Opinion: I Dream of Genomes, The East Hampton Star, March 26.2007 Kevin Mellema, 9x10: WPA/Corcoran Member Shows at the WWP Gallery, Falls Church News-Press,August 2.Kriston Capps, Strictly Painting 6: Color Field Revisited, Washington City Paper, June 28.Kate Paul, Washington Project for the Arts draws a Summer Crowd, WRC.2006 J.T. Kirkland, Conversions Opening Tonight, Ellipse Arts Center blogspot, July 28.J.T. Kirkland,Thinking about Art; Lisa Kellner@Conversions, ThinkingAboutArt Blog, July 25.Robin Tierney, The Art of Becoming is Very Becoming, DC Examiner, July 22. Awards, Residencies, Talks:2016 Semi-finalist, Joan Mitchell Emerging Artist Award2015 New Media Invitational Award, Target Gallery at the Torpedo Factory, VA2012 Artist Talk, VisArts, MDVisiting Artist, Slippery Rock University, PA2010 BRIC Media Art Fellowship, BRIC Arts, Brooklyn, NY2009 Swing Space Residency, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, New York, NYFinalist, RGASA Exhibition, NY Studio Gallery, New York, NYSemi-Finalist, Trawick Prize, Bethesda, MD2007 Semi-Finalist, Trawick Prize, Bethesda, MD2005 First Place, All Media Show, Artworks, Richmond, VA2004 Honorable Mention, All Media Show, Artworks, Richmond, VAStudio Residency Program, School of Visual Arts, New York, NY2003 Residency Program, Jon Imber Studios, Stonington, ME2000 Residency Program, Accademia Caerite, Rome, Italy Publications and Projects:2020 US Artists, Copelouzos Family Art Museum Publication2019 - Editor and Creator of: Five Questions for Artists2019 Editor and Creator of: A Space for Artists2011 Lisa Kellner; Look. See. Be. A publication documenting my site responsive sculptural installations.2009 Anonda Bell, Forward and Artist Essay; Decadence and Decay,The Mansion Project.2008 Judith Barry, Director, Forward; MFA in Visual Arts Graduate Exhibition Catalogue.Michael Newman, Thesis Advisor, Artist essay; MFA in Visual Arts Graduate Exhibition.Ceci Mendez, Forward; Material Meditation, New Art Center, MA.Lisa Kellner, Mock Magazine Ads; Perfect 8 Magazine, New York, NY.2007 Lisa Kellner; Journal entries and public art performance for Adrian Piper, Everything #10,Creative Time, New York, NY.2006 Lisa Kellner; "Two Thousand and Counting", Daily Constitutional Magazine, Issue #2. - An installation and writing piece regarding human loss in the Iraq War.G.O.A.T., Group of Artists Talking, Founder and Member, New York. Representation:Carver Hill Gallery, Camden, MaineArtemis Gallery, Northeast Harbor, MEArtspace, New York, NY Education:2008 Master of Fine Arts Lesley University College of Art & Design, Boston, MA2004-1999 Drawing and Painting School of Visual Arts, New York, NY1999-1996 Drawing and Painting Art Students League, New York, NY1987 Bachelor of Science Boston University, Boston, MA