Lissaman considers  her current acrylic
paintings/collage to be descended from the
vigorous innovations of the ‘70's, when
transparency, atmospheric color, light and space
predominated. Robert Irwin’s articulation about
perceptual awareness and realms of consciousness
continues to affect her. The connection between
ancient eastern mysticism, and the dynamic forces
of energy at work in our universe is a continuing
concern. Her former sculptures offered the viewer a
transcendent experience
through active engagement with the work itself. Her
paintings continue to offer  the viewer entry into an
ephemeral, spiritual experience.

"My interest in space, origins, and cosmic events
emerged as an interpretation of how the alphabet
was conceived. In JUST SO  a cosmic explosion
transforms human consciousness to a level where
natural forms become word sounds." - Nancy

Aside from exhibitions and active involvement with
community organizations and art groups extending
back 35 years, Lissaman has also maintained a
career in education. Starting in 1986 as a LAUSD
elementary school teacher, she continued through
a master’s degree to teach Early Child
Development in the community college system, with
special emphasis on hands-on creative exploration.  
Her current involvement is with the Central City
Action Committee where she runs a weekly art
workshop for underprivileged kids.
**THROUGH A GLASS LIGHTLY (108 x 1/8 x 118)) - 5
thermo-setting elastomer suspensions. Site-specific
indoor piece interacts with outdoor foliage.
**PROGRESSIONS IN COLOR (80 x 1/8 x 12) - 10
suspensions thermo-setting elastomer

**WAVELENGTHS (9' x 3/16  x 23 ) serial imagery
suspensions
clear-casting polyester resin

Nancy Lissaman was born and raised by  the
shores of Lake Michigan. Receiving a B.A. in
history from Stanford University, she
continued later to study painting  at the
Carmel Art Institute. With three small sons in
tow, the family moved to   Pasadena where
her husband joined the faculty at the
California Institute of Technology.

Lissaman’s attention shifted to the
challenges of the 3D format. This was the
Space Age!  Artists were experimenting with
space age materials and scientific concepts.

Lissaman undertook training in Applied Arts
and Technology and received valuable
mentoring from master sculptor, Claire
Falkenstein.  It was  her intent to capture
essences of natural movement in space
through the interaction between ceiling
suspended reflective metals and plexiglass
strips catching each others' forms and colors
from a directed light source. Patterns of light
dancing across the walls of the welding shop
where Lissaman trained, fed a continuing
need to envision the energetic forces at work
in the universe.  

Fascination with the movement of cloud
formations, wind patterns across fields of tall
grass, ripples through sand and  currents of
water, allowed Lissaman to implement this  
vision after a further year of training in Art &
Technology offered by well-known sculptors
who taught at Caltech. Lissaman developed
a series of clear casting resin sculptures  
which were created to involve the spectator
in a form of participation that transformed
physical manipulation into a meditative,
spiritual dialogue or gestalt.

Her sculptures gained recognition with a solo
show in 1974, the inclusion in a prestigious
New Talent country-wide invitational, several
LACMA exhibitions, the Caltech Baxter
Gallery and further institutions around
Southern California.
BIO
**OUR FAIR CITY - IV (56 x 56) canvas and paper
painting/collage.  
**JUST SO (56 x 94) - 13 connected images, acrylic on
canvas and paper collage.
Our Fair City is a view from Echo Park hillside
dwelling of fires raging in S. Central LA. Sixteen
(9x9 inch) tiles reflect my
interpretation/glimmerings of shattered lives,
hopes and dreams of neighborhoods under
siege.
A STATEMENT ABOUT THE ARTIST

“Nancy pursues her art with the vision of a sculptural painter. Her choices of shape and color create
a contemplative mood in an abstract way  - developing into a harmonic, cosmic landscape.  The
disernable cosmic metaphor within the painted surface is like maps or regions of the inner universe,
orchestrated through a dancing energy.”

RAFAEL ESCAMILLO, ARTIST
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