TWWP x Wall of Art

A Portrait of: Lisa Larsson

The artist LISA LARSSON loves to be at sea and hates answering the phone. Her colorful work manifests a form of escapism that invites to a happy experience. And lust for life. We talked about it and much more when we visited her in her studio in the south of Stockholm. Right now Lisa is up to date with an upcoming exhibition and an exclusive collaboration with Wall of Art. 

TWWP X WALL OF ART

Interviewed by Karolina Borg, Photographed by Ceen Wahren. 

Hi Lisa, how are you today?
- Today I woke up for the first time as a 30, should be kind of hungover from the birthday celebration yesterday but I feel fantastic!

How would you describe your creation and your expression?
- My process is very similar to my expression. It is a very pleasant creation, my paintings portray some form of escapism. Safe relaxed brushstrokes that invite to a happy experience. I try to create scenes that evoke pleasant memories and desire for life.

It was not long since you moved home to Sweden from New York?
- Yes, I had lived in NYC for 8 years, I started to feel that I lacked culture. It may sound harsh, but the United States lacks the timeless, European culture I longed for. The last six months were a struggle, I lived rootless, had to live with friends and in my studio for a while. In addition, I worked day and night at my farewell exhibition, which consumed my strength. In the autumn of 2019, I decided to move to Europe, try out France, Greece and Spain.

And finally you ended up in Sweden again?
- Yes, I came home to Gothenburg just before Christmas 2019 and had a solo exhibition there. My plan was never to stay in Sweden but only to unload my life from New York. But life had other plans for me, the corona came which meant that my plans in southern Europe had to be put on pause. It did me no good because I had found a person I wanted to be with. So everything turned out better than I thought.

What does your art mean to you?
- Art is a sanctuary. Something that lifts me up when I'm down and something that enhances my joy when I'm happy.

Tell us about the collaboration with Wall of Art.
- I have always refused to print my art, but Wall of Art appealed to me in an exciting way. They have an incredible, curated collection and work with many talented female creators. It has been a super fun collaboration and I hope that people will love the prints we have created as much as I do.

What inspires you?
- The good life, you know when you eat a perfect lunch in the shade of a fig tree, drink wine with interesting people and a little distant jazz is played from a nearby piazza.

"I AM INSPIRED BY THE GOOD LIFE, YOU KNOW WHEN YOU EAT A PERFECT LUNCH IN THE SHADOW OF A FIG TREE, DRINK WINE TOGETHER WITH INTERESTING PEOPLE AND A LITTLE DISTANT JAZZ IS PLAYED FROM A NEARBY PIAZZA."

When did your love for painting come across you?
- I can not remember, I have always painted.

How come this became your path in life?
- It felt like predestination. It was a given path for me early in life.

How nice. How has this special time we live in affected you?
- I must honestly say that it has not affected my work very much. I think that as an artist you are more prepared because you are used to working yourself and take your own responsibility for how you set up your days. Personally, I suffer somewhat from being understimulated socially, I love being by myself but this time has made me miss many people I have not seen for a long time.

What frightens you?
- Indifference.

When do you feel most in phase with life?
- When I manage to balance pleasure and usefulness. It is a big challenge for me but I have realized the importance of trying to succeed.

"Artists I love right now are Oli Epp, Douglas Cantor, Robert Nava, Jorge Galindo and Genieve Figgis."

Which three thoughts are looping the most in your head right now?
- "I'm so incredibly happy to be 30", "What should I cook for dinner tonight", "Be in the present".

What are you working on right now?
- Now I am working on my upcoming exhibition. During my first year here in Stockholm, I have tried to explore new expressions, but I have had problems with my inspiration. Now I have finally found the right one, so I'm in the studio all the time. It is an incredible feeling when you feel the desire and drive in your profession.

Your thoughts and dreams about the future?
- I am unable to think far ahead, it may be possible to think a maximum of a few weeks into the future. But I look forward to finishing the exhibition that takes place either in Stockholm or in New York, it is unclear so far. Then I really long to work in Sicily for a few months this autumn. My boyfriend and I lived and worked in Deia last fall and it was an incredible place to paint so now we were going to try Sicily.

LISA, A FEW QUICK QUESTIONS:

I AM…
A true connoisseur of life.

I FEEL BEST WHEN…
I'm close to nature.

I GET ANNOYED WHEN…
People walking slowly.

A MEMORY I WANT TO SHARE IS…
I met Martin Scorsese once a long time ago and I said to him “It's an honor Mr. Scorsese, I would be on my knees right now if I could ”. I quickly realized that I did not manage to formulate myself very well, but he got a good laugh.

THE MOST IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO RELATIONSHIPS IS…
To never take your person for granted.

CURRENTLY I AM INTO…
Miles Davis.

I DIDN'T THINK THIS WOULD HAPPEN BUT…
I live in Sthlm (! ??!?!)

I WANT TO RECOMMEND…
A bottle of Vega Sicilias Alion.

MY BEST PLACE IS…
Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle.

WHEN I PAINT…
I speak for myself.

A GRAY BORING DAY I…
Cooks and draws on Marvin Gaye.

I LOVE TO…
Be at sea.

I HATE…
Answer the phone.

At The Way We Play you will find more "Small talks" with interesting profiles.