LISA URBAN
“Growing up I was always interested in the illustrative and surreal worlds of cartoons, children’s books and Disney movies. The idea of sitting down and magically being transported to another world was something that I always found comfort in. I find this same comfort when I sit down to knit. No matter what is wrong, both of these experiences make me feel hopeful and magical. As an artist, I am combining these two journeys by recreating the spaces that have inhabited my imagination through the use of knitted forms in an environment. By personally knitting each object and arranging them into various surrealistic still life scenes, I am creating a world that can only come from one’s imagination. The knitted forms begin to take on a role as the characters to my story and the use of other props as well as colored light helps to bring it all together. By the time I am through, I feel as though I myself have been transported to these animated worlds, and can only hope the viewer feels the same.”
Lisa, who grew up in Salina, Kansas, is primarily a painter, but has a brief background in abstract drawing as well. When she is not painting, she can usually be found knitting, cooking, exercising or enjoying life.
Lisa Urban was recently an artist-in-residence in Navasota, Texas, and plans to stay in the region upon completion of her residency in February of 2015.
Education
2009-2013
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Painting and Drawing
Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
Solo Exhibitions
2014
"Solo Exhibition," Strasser Village Nano Gallery - Manhattan, KS - May - July
2013
"Solo Exhibition," Bluestem Bistro - Manhattan, KS - Nov.-Dec.
Group Exhibitions
2014
"Bite, Scratch and Expose Juried Printmaking Exhibition", Morean Arts Center - St. Petersburg, FL - May-June (Christopher T. Creyts, juror)
2013
"National Greeley Art Exhibition," FMS Bank - Greeley, CO - May (Desmond O'Hagan, juror)
"BFA Group Exhibition - Painting," Mark A. Chapman Gallery, Kansas State University - Manhattan, KS - Dec
"BFA Group Exhibition - Drawing," Mark A. Chapman Gallery, Kansas State University - Manhattan, KS - April
2012
"Scholarship Show," Group Exhibition, Willard Hall, Kansas State University - Manhattan, KS - April
"Painting Society Group Show," Group Exhibition, Varsity Donuts - Manhattan, KS - Nov.
"Scholarship Show," Group Exhibition, Willard Hall, Kansas State University - Manhattan, KS - April
2010
"Painting Society Group Show," Group Exhibition, 5.4.7. Art Center - Greensburg, KS - Nov.
Residencies
2014
"Navasota Artist in Residence," The Arts Council of the Brazos Valley, Navasota, TX - Aug - Feb
Professional Experience
2014
Salina Art Center - Salina, KS - May - Aug. SummerART Assistant
UFM Community Learning Center - Manhattan, KS - March-April
Instructor - Introduction to Drawing
2013
Salina Art Center - Salina, KS - May - Aug.
SummerART Assistant
Other Experience
2013-2014
Kansas State University Painting and Drawing Collaborative - Manhattan, KS
Founding President
2011-2013
Kansas State University Painting Society - Manhattan, KS
2010-2014
President Relay For Life of Kansas State - Manhattan, KS
Committee member; Luminaria Sub-Commitee Chair
Awards
2013
Art Department Scholarship, Kansas State University - Manhattan, KS
John W. O’Shea Art Scholarship, Kansas State University - Manhattan, KS
Varney’s Material Award Scholarship, Kansas State University - Manhattan, KS
2012
Eugene McNall Art Scholarship, Kansas State University - Manhattan, KS
Lectures, Workshops
2014
Color Viscosity Prints, Demonstration, Kansas State University - Manhattan, KS
LISA’S GALLERIES
LISA’S UPDATES
Go to Lisa’s new page, “The Poetry of Lisa Urban.”
Rusted Morning Shore (oil on canvas)
Nightfall (oil on canvas 9x12)
Evening Blossum Song (oil on canvas 30x15)
Still Spring Night
oil on canvas 6x12
Flowering Mushroom Creek
oil on canvas 40 x 32
Mystic Ocean Plumes
oil on canvas 6x12
Dust: gouache on paper - 18 x 24 in - 2015
Traveling Violet Eye: oil on canvas - 11 x 14 in - 2015
Dropped Blossom Smiles: oil on wood - 16 x 14 in - 2015
<Live Summer Breath: oil on canvas - 11 x 14 in - 2015
^Crumble:
gouache on Paper - 24 x 18 in - 2015
<Flowing Insect Winter:
oil on wood - 16 x 14 in - 2015
Broken Amber Haze---oil on canvas - 50 x 40 in - 2015
Frozen Summer Harvest---oil on canvas - 40 x 50 in - 2015
Listening Owl Journey - Oil on found wood - 12 x 16 in - 2015
Whispering Dawn Thunder - Oil on wood - 16 x 12 in- 2015
Autumn Field Night - Oil on wood - 16 x 12 in - 2015
Cold Dandelion Trickle - Oil on found wood - 16 x 12 in - 2015
"Cultivate" oil on canvas 32 x 40---2014
“Carapace 1” oil on canvas 40x30---2014
“Proliferate” acrylic yarn knitted sculpture installation with colored light
Openwork 3.5 x 3.5 2014 Ink on paper
Morning Garden Stream 40x32 oil on canvas
Wild Window Weed 28x44 oil on canvas
Bend 9 x 12 gouache on paper
Clouds 1 12 in x 9 in drypoint etching
Investigate 3 12 in x 9 in Viscosity Monoprint with Intaglio Etching Overlay
6 x 8 x 7 in , 2014
Florescence - Acrylic yarn and polyfil 6.5 x 8 x 6.5 in, 2014
Cultivate - Acrylic yarn and polyfil Bedlam - Acrylic yarn and polyfil
7 x 8 x 6 in, 2014 7 x 8 x 6 in, 2014
Drop Stitch 3.5 x 3.5 ink on paper
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