We’re looking forward to introducing you to Lisa Solomon. Check out our conversation below.
Lisa , a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I have been tasked of late the job of just fixing things. A broken sink faucet, dryer, garbage disposal, fridge door that wasn’t closing correctly…. I love that in this day and age you can search online for parts, manuals and you tube videos that help you do all of this on your own. It’s really satisfying to fix something that many people think an “expert” is needed. I love how my confidence gets a boost and feel so satisfied when I’m able to DIY something! I also kind of love that I don’t really tell anyone about this. It just kind of happens. And that the more I do it, the more comfortable I am with trying it again and again.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a mixed media artist and educator who moonlights as an author (my 6th !!! book – Art Craft Color published by Hardie Grant is coming out Spring of 2026), illustrator and graphic designer. I’m a Hapa – or as the kids are saying these days – WAsian. My mother was born and raised in Japan. My dad is Jewish Caucasian. This has been really integral to what I do and make. I often am researching aspects of Japanese culture that I feel an affinity to, but have had less access to living in the United States. I integrate what I learn into both intimate drawings and paintings and large scale installations.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
This is a multifold answer. First my mom taught me a lot about work ethic and discipline. She always modeled that you do your best and that you strive for perfection – but a realistic one (thank goodness) – perfection didn’t necessarily mean PERFECT but it did mean looking at things from more than one angle and trying to do things to the absolute best of your ability. She held so many different jobs – from tour guide to braille transcriber. She always looked for things that were interesting, or helped people and wasn’t afraid to try something new when she got bored or an opportunity popped up. My father also had a really strong work ethic and spent his whole life really helping people. That was a quiet influence on me. And my grandparents also – my grandfather was a handy person – always fixing things [hence my trying to do that as well] and my grandmother taught me a lot about hand work – the embroidery and “crafting” that shows up in my work stems a lot from her.
For my art there have been so many influential artists that I’ve looked to for inspiration, but Katherine Sherwood really stands out. She was my professor as an undergraduate at UC Berkeley. I also ended up working in her studio post graduation. Watching her navigate her life – being a mom, being a very successful and relevant artist, running her studio and art career was all very eye opening and incredibly helpful.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I actually feel like NOW is a time that I have been closest to giving up. I’m not going to – I’m realizing that I have to be kind to myself and allow some down time in order to collect myself and take care of myself. But, I just finished a huge project with my color partner Christine Buckton Tillman this summer in Japan – and the experience of making the work and being in Japan was so wonderful that I’ve been having a hard time getting back to “normal” life. It’s not that I’m un-inspired, it’s more that I’m suffering from “I wish I had a skill that could help the world more directly” syndrome. I think about this from time to time – maybe it would have been better if I was a doctor, or a lawyer – with a more immediate means to help people. But then I think about the power of art, and how art really is part of the human condition and that art connects people across the largest divides (aka class, race, literal oceans). That art is inherently a political act – particularly in a culture that both fetishizes and denigrates it. And that ultimately the personal is always political – in sharing an individual story or idea you are actually connecting to a greater consciousness.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I’m not entirely sure, but I hope that they’d say – authenticity, kindness, beauty (in the grand sense, not in a wear make up sense).
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
The dishes. Sitting in traffic. Worrying about money. (I feel like all of these are impossible, but it’s what I want to stop doing immediately). I think what I’m craving – what in a way I sense the whole world is craving – is more genuine community. Connecting deeply, moving more slowly. I was chatting with a younger artist the other day and they wanted more FUN in their life. I think it’s interesting to think about balance and what we are willing to do/give up – and how these ideas change over time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lisasolomon.com
- Instagram: @lisasolomon
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