Artist Statement – 2021

I work in a variety of media including collage, digital media, and animation, but one thing my different bodies of work have in common is that they begin with images I find and a willingness to engage with these materials on a highly tactile level. There is a sense of discovery and delight that comes with piecing together ideas from found objects and images. Depending on the source, the results may be more narrative in nature and other times abstract experiments in composition and color. I find paying a lot of attention to intricate details allows for a mindset bent on discovery as I dissect patterns, and weave images and colors without preconceived notions of what the end result with be. Coming from a background in animation, I find it impossible to avoid humor and absurdity, both qualities that can act as a conduit to darker emotions and biting commentary. With that in mind, I’m not interested in exacting interpretations of my work, but more a shared experience that is not always easy for viewers to articulate. The final pieces vary from the ridiculous to the formal, and sometimes a combination of both. 

Bio

Lisa Barcy is a mixed-media artist, award winning animator, and native Chicagoan. Her work includes stop-motion and experimental animation, collage, book arts, and theater puppets. Her short films have screened all over the world including Slamdance, The Ottawa International Animation Festival, The Black Maria Film Festival, and Chicago International Film Festival. She’s also created music videos for musicians such as Andrew Bird and created animated projections for dance performances by The Seldoms. Her BFA is from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and MA from Columbia College Chicago’s Interdisciplinary Arts program. She teaches at DePaul University.