Liza Sylvestre

Liza Sylvestre is an American visual artist born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is known for detailed abstract mixed media paintings and drawings. Her current work explores new media such as installation and video art. Much of her work revolves around our sensory perceptions and misconceptions of the world around.

Personal life

While growing up in Minneapolis she began to lose her hearing around the age of six. She had a very gradual decline in her hearing ability that became more debilitating around the age of sixteen. She had a cochlear implant surgically placed in her ear to improve her hearing in 2003 when she was 20 years old. After graduating with her Bachelor of Arts in 2006 she moved to Miami for 6 years to work and exhibit her artwork.
She currently lives in Illinois with her husband, artist and writer Christopher Jones, and her two children.

Exhibitions

Solo exhibitions
2019Third Space. New Genres Art Space, Rockford, ILThird Space. The Plains Art Museum, Fargo, ND
2018Captioned. Granary Arts, Ephraim, UT
2017Interference. Soo Visual Arts Center, Minneapolis, MN
2015Meridians. Public Functionary, Minneapolis, MN
2014Elements Unheard. MacRostie Art Center, Grand Rapids, MN
Group exhibitions
2020Flashlight Project for Heavy Breathing. Land & Sea Gallery, Oakland, CAVoices in the Gallery. John Hansard Gallery, Southampton, England
2019The Other Four. The Plains Art Museum, Fargo, NDMFA Thesis Show. Krannert Art Museum, Champaign, IL
2018A Place for Us. Hairpin Arts Center, Chicago ILHumanly Possible: The Empathy Exhibition. Frederick Layton Gallery of Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, Milwaukee, WI
2017Twentieth International Opening Exhibition, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, ILBetween the Sky & the Earth. Roots & Culture Contemporary Art Center, Chicago, IL
2016Michael Dandley / Liza Sylvestre. Nahcotta, Portsmouth, NHArt on the Verge 7 Fellowship Exhibition. Soap Factory, Minneapolis, MN
2015Enormous Tiny Art Show 18. Nahcotta, Portsmouth, NH
2014Enormous Tiny Art Show 16. Nahcotta, Portsmouth, NHNed Evans / Carly Glovinski / Liza Sylvestre. Nahcotta, Portsmouth, NHGet Lucky. Soo Visual Arts Center, Minneapolis, MN
2013Enormous Tiny Art Show 14. Nahcotta, Portsmouth, NH
2012Natural Curiosities. Miami International Airport, Miami, FLThis and That. Art Center of South Florida, Miami, FL
2011Recently Acquired. Audrey Love Gallery, Miami, FL
2010Small Works. The Swenson Gallery, Miami FLLucky You. Audrey Love Gallery, Miami FL
Screenings and events
2019The Film and Video Poetry Symposium at Cinema Kosmos, Moscow, Russia
2018Captioned. Lease Agreement, Huntsville, TXSymposium on Sensory Loss and Art. Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis MNThe Film & Video Poetry Society. Los Angeles, CAThe Feminist Film Festival. Champaign, IL
2017Northwest Conference of the Society for Photographic Education. Portland, OR

Commissions

25 piece commission for the 4 star James Hotel, Miami Beach FL

Awards

2021

Awarded Joan Mitchell Fellowship from the Joan Mitchell Foundation

2017

Art Works Grant, National Endowment for the Arts
Travel Grant, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
Mary Jane Neer Scholarship, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

2016

University Fellowship, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

2015

Art on the Verge 7 Fellow
VSA Jerome - Emerging Artist Grantee
Metropolitan Regional Arts Council - Arts Learning Grantee

2014

Minnesota State Arts Board - Artist Initiative Grant
Minnesota State Arts Board - Arts Learning Grant