Canvas Rebel
Meet Lissa Mel
[as originally published on canvasrebel.com]
Lissa , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
I’m currently juggling both solo and collaborative projects. The immediate focus lies on my participation in the Los Angeles Superfine Art Fair, where I’m set to exhibit my artwork. Simultaneously, I’m gearing up for the next show at my art gallery in Santa Monica, The Messengers Gallery. A group exhibition of exciting artists will open next month and we’re exchanging exhibitions at the gallery every month. In addition, my upcoming endeavors involve captivating collaborations with various athletes. By using their favorite items – from shoes to skateboards – as canvases, my goal is to transcend the confines of conventional wall art and infuse creativity into our everyday lives.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I continually push the boundaries of my art, channeling it to make a meaningful contribution to society. I’m an explorer of novel materials and techniques; my creative work remains in a perpetual state of evolution. My foundation lies in painting and sculpture. When I moved to Los Angeles in 2019, I found a way to seamlessly merge my two fundamental passions: painting and fashion. This fusion came to life as I painted my original artwork onto purses. The success of this line culminated in a partnership with the giant fashion house, Michael Kors, in 2022. Their invitation to collaborate and create live paintings on their bags transformed each piece into an exclusive art collectible. This experience acted as the catalyst for the birth of my own apparel line, now accessible online at lorenmarie.co. I’ve recently inaugurated my very own art gallery in Santa Monica: The Messengers Gallery, where I exhibit the work of fellow artists.
Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?
In the beginning, I was intrigued by the concept of NFTs and fascinated by the potential they held for artists. I received numerous offers to sell my own NFTs across various platforms. However, as time went on, I encountered a plethora of scams and unfulfilled assurances. Additionally, the growing concern of AI supplanting traditional artists became apparent. At this juncture, I find myself in a state of indecision regarding NFTs, and for the time being, I’m remaining devoted to traditional, tangible art.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
The initial layer of my recent paintings comprises mantras. These sacred mantras have their roots in an ancient language of sound. Sound is vibratory. As I concentrate on these mantras and infuse them onto the canvas with deliberate intention, each painting resonates with an elevated frequency. My ultimate aspiration is to craft art that elevates and enhances consciousness on a global scale.