Design in all its forms is at the core of who I am.  I’ve been an interior designer, urban designer, real estate developer, and historic preservationist for 40 years. At the same time I was creating art.  I assume that this artistic bent was indirectly influenced by attending Cranbrook Schools (a National Historic Landmark) from an early age in Michigan. There I was surrounded by the most influential designers of the 1930s, including Eliel Saarinen, Albert Kahn, and Carl Milles.  

No doubt this led to my subsequent leadership role in creating the LODO historic district in Denver much later in life.  The belief espoused by Cranbrook’s founder and principle architect was that art should permeate every aspect of life.

I work with stone, paint, paper, and clay — most often in an abstract style.  Every piece is individual and original.  While working on paper, the artwork sometimes displays an Asian influence with a fluid and light touch.  The oil paintings are often more dramatic, and bold but with an ethereal quality.

The source of the designs remains a mystery to me.  I often start with a color concept and make a mark.  Each additional mark responds to the first and so on.  As I explore color and line, I dive into a world without words. I exchange thinking for feeling as the canvas becomes a silent song. 

 All artwork is original, one-of-a-kind work in a variety of media: stone, oil, clay, and paper.

The artwork can also be seen at:

  • Lisa’s downtown Denver studio at 999 Vallejo St., Denver, 80204. Set up a time through the “contact” link above. PRISM Workshops, Building 3, Studio D.

  • Artwork Archive. https://www.artworkarchive.com/profile/lisa-purdy