I had the pleasure to collaborate with artist Lisa Hunt for part of the new Weitzner collection, Reverie. It was such a joy and truly inspirational to be in her studio and see her work. I sat down recently with Lisa to learn a bit more about her background, where she seeks inspiration and the future of Hunt Collective.

Read on to see some of the Reverie collection and Lisa’s work!

Can you tell us a little bit about your background? How did you get started as an artist?

I grew up for the most part in Aurora, Colorado dreaming about one day moving to New York and working in magazines. As a young girl I had no idea how or what exactly that would look like but it was what I knew I wanted for myself.

I studied art throughout high school including classes at a technical school studying “commercial art”, what we now call graphic design. I eventually applied to art schools in New York and decided to attend Pratt Institute in Brooklyn to study Graphic Design. Due to financial reasons I had to withdraw one semester short of graduating but I didn’t let that stop me.

My dreams came true and I had a successful career in magazine publishing for 20 years. My last full time position was at Essence Magazine as the creative director. It was an exciting position and in addition to producing celebrity covers I also had the opportunity to direct a photo shoot of the Obama family at their home in Chicago before he was elected president. Definitely an experience of a lifetime. And to top that Essence was the second magazine, Oprah was the first, to be invited to the White House to photograph First Lady Michele Obama and her mother.

There came a point where I knew I wanted to change creative careers and get back to making with my hands. It took about 10 years of freelancing in publishing while I explored many options. Textile design was something that I seriously considered but ultimately I decided to pursue art full time. It’s been about five years since I have called myself an artist and I continue to grow and learn. My creative journey has taken many turns and it has not always been easy but I trust that pursuing the things I love will always land me in the right place.

What mediums do you work in? Which is your favorite and why?

Screen printing or serigraphy is my current medium. I love the smooth finish of the ink on paper. and canvas, it’s very satisfying to me. My works are often controlled and precise which can be a challenge in the printmaking process. There are ways to work more freely within the medium and I look forward to experimenting.

You work a lot with repetition; what is it about repeating patterns that you love so much?

Patterns have always been a source of fascination and inspiration. I find visual repetition soothing and I have vivid memories from childhood that involve me observing shapes in my surroundings and creating patterns in my mind as I daydreamed.

Repetition is also a theme in my work that signifies movement. Layering to shapes to create depth within the repetition to create a meditative effect.

Is there something you would consider a constant source of inspiration in your life?

Observing my surroundings is usually where inspiration starts for me. Shapes found in architecture often capture my attention, especially how balance is created by the repetition and scale of rectangles, circles and squares. All simples shapes with infinite possibilities.

Could you tell us a little bit about the Black Artists’ + Designers Guild, of which you are a founding member?

BADG is a global collective of independent Black artists, makers and designers throughout the African diaspora. Founded at the end of 2018 by my friend Malene Barnett (a custom carpet designer and ceramicist) who felt that the art and design industries were not doing enough to be inclusive in editorial coverage and industry opportunities. The Guild website is a directory of black creatives, including artists, architects, interior designers, and artisans.

I invite everyone to discover the enormous talent of the Guilds members. Representation is everything and without it creativity dies in a vacuum.

More info about BADG here!

Who is your favorite artist if you had to name one, and why?

I don’t have one favorite but what I will say is that I am very inspired by the community of quilters of Gee’s Bend, Alabama. They create the most stunning and complex quilts. Abstract, bold and sophisticated color palettes. All things that I love.

What is your favorite color to work with, if you had to name one, and why?

Gold! I love its warmth and reflective qualities and its ability to draw the eye into a composition.

What are your future goals for your work?

Collaborating with Lori on the Reverie collection and seeing my work translated into textiles and wallpaper was something that I had explored myself for a few years. When Lori offered the opportunity I was thrilled and am very excited by how the collection came together.

As someone who is inspired by my surroundings it would be truly gratifying to create large scale public works. I can imagine my work existing in the world in 3 dimensions where people can interact with it on a daily basis.

Other goals include site specific commissions similar to the one I completed last spring for the St. Regis Hotel in Aman, Jordan. The commission was for 2 canvases, each measuring over 8 feet. Working at that scale was a first and I loved it! I look forward to other commissions.

Any big projects or commissions coming up that you would like to tell our readers about?

I have been invited by Macy’s to create 6 installations for the windows in their flagship 34th Street Herald Square store in celebration of Black History Month. In addition one of the installations will be replicated in the Boston, Washington DC, Chicago and Philadelphia branches.

It is the first time that Macy’s has dedicated windows to celebrate BHM and I am honored and thrilled to create installations for such an iconic brand. I chose 6 of my existing works on paper as a starting point and translated them to work in 3 dimensional spaces.

My hope is that the windows express a measure of exuberance, beauty and complexity—found in vast abundance in the history of African Americans and which is integral to this country and the world’s history.

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