Lori Evensen

Where do you live: Philadelphia, PA.
Your education: Tyler School of Art, Temple University BFA in Painting.
Describe your art in three words: colorful, captivating, intricate.
Your discipline: Painting, Drawing, Mixed Media.
www.lorievensenart.info | Instagram

Your artistic journey began at a very young age. How do you think this early start influenced your development as an artist?

Starting to paint as a child gave me the freedom to experiment with ideas I might have been too self-conscious to pursue as an adult. As adults, we are often concerned about profitability, exhibition acceptance, impressing others, and striving to surpass our own previous work – but these are pressures that we don’t experience as children because nobody (including us) expects a child’s art to be any good. The earlier you start, the more time you have to create without the burden of expectation influencing your creative choices. Luckily, I started painting before I could even talk, so I had many years to experiment in ways that I may not have had the courage to attempt had I started painting later in life.

Lori Evensen | Rainbow Road Trip | 2024

Can you describe how your experiences studying abroad in Rome and Tunisia have shaped your artistic vision?

Rome’s stunning architecture certainly inspired me to explore a more geometric style. But I was equally captivated at the Villa Borghese by the way sunlight filtered through the leaves of the plants, illuminating them like stained glass. Such beauty made me eager to incorporate plants in my work a lot more than I previously had. Tunisia’s vast landscapes also left a deep impression on me, fueling my desire to create surreal versions of them – a theme that frequently appears in my art.

Your work is known for its vivid colors and eccentric patterns. What inspires your choice of colors and patterns in your artwork?

My color choices are driven by a desire to create a specific atmosphere and evoke a particular emotion in the viewer. It could be about presenting a landscape of quiet contemplation, conveying a sense of growth and renewal, or showcasing the multifaceted complexities of a particular subject. The eccentric patterns I use stem from noticing the intricate tessellations in jewelry, textile designs, and plants when viewed up close, and then choosing to recontextualize them.

Lori Evensen | Ruler of Two Worlds | 2022

You mentioned that your art originates from a quirky and optimistic view of the world. How do you translate this perspective into your creative process?

Mostly, I brainstorm what themes, color combinations and unusual patterns might pique the viewer’s curiosity and reveal how beautiful the world can be despite its imperfections. After all, the goal of my art is to offer viewers a much needed escape from the stresses of daily life by inviting them to immerse themselves in captivating parallel universes.

Your paintings often explore the concept of parallel universes. Do you draw inspiration from any specific literature, science, or philosophy for this theme?

Yes, my inspiration is drawn specifically from the visual aesthetics of Alice in Wonderland, Dr Seuss, and Avatar. I aim to lead viewers ‘down the rabbit hole,’ so to speak, guiding them through fanciful realms that seem straight out of a dream. Rather than depicting these lands realistically, I draw on Dr Seuss’ whimsical illustrations and Avatar’s otherworldly feel to incorporate bizarre and imaginative elements that defy reality but feel perfectly normal within such a parallel world.

Lori Evensen | Cave in Bloom | 2019

As an artist who has exhibited in various cities, how do you see the role of place and environment in influencing your art?

I like to think every travel experience adds a new color to my art palette, as each unique place offers distinct feelings and perspectives that shape my next piece. But the environment in which my artwork is displayed also influences how it’s perceived. For example, one of my bright, vibrant paintings that seemed to stand out in an expansive gala benefit appears rather quaint on the wall in my living room.

Lori Evensen | Sunset Explosion | 2020

What advice would you give to aspiring artists who want to develop their unique style and voice?

Study the work of other artists to find ways to distinguish your own style. Apply to as many shows as possible, but don’t hesitate to decline opportunities that don’t align with your specific type of art. Most importantly, experiment with as many different styles and materials as you can. Doing so will inevitably lead to unexpected and valuable insights you would not have otherwise discovered. For example, an instructor in college once suggested that I ought to rotate my paintings while working on them because my compositions often felt too bottom heavy. Though initially skeptical, trying it significantly expanded my creative process, and I ended up developing a way to create paintings that could hang in four different orientations, allowing viewers to experience it differently with each rotation.