Meet Lori Goldberg | Visual Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lori Goldberg and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lori, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?

When people asked me why I became an artist, I told them I did not choose to be an artist; it chose me. When I was a young child, around eight, I knew I would be an artist. But it was more than the making of art. It was a state of being. I think, breathe and live my art. I have an open, curious, imaginative mind that wants to explore and experience life through different means and materials. My main focus is painting. I love standing before a large blank canvas and saying, “What portal will open up for me today”? 

 My particular lens in life is to see the unseen, the beauty in the mundane, and the nuances of colour against shape, line, form and texture. The juxtaposition between seemingly opposites. The spaces that occur between things. Contextualizing and creating imagery that reflects life’s vulnerability, joy and struggle.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

At this stage of my life, where I have spent more time on this planet behind me than I will have ahead of me, years of living life and the wisdom that comes from that is what sets me apart from others. I also know now that there is more in the less. Paring down to the essentials. Knowing what is important and what to spend energy on. Like this review! 

Now that my sons are launched and I have slowed down in my teaching, I am full-time in my studio, and my work is receiving international recognition. I am hitting my stride now. I have a solo exhibition about my work around the environment titled ‘Poetics of the Discarded’ at the Hanmo Art Centre in Beijing this year. I have a new gallery, L.L. Contemporary, that attends art fairs. This is all very exciting and offers new opportunities to broaden my reach. My work is engaging in a larger community, hopefully having some impact and contributing meaningfully.

 I am proud to have perseverance, tenacity, an optimistic and positive mindset and a willingness to work hard to achieve my goals and succeed.

My fifteen minutes of fame came early, which changed when I became a single mom. Now that the boys are launched, I am again involved in exhibiting in public and commercial contemporary galleries, attending residencies, and exhibiting internationally.

I want people to know that if you believe in your purpose and stand behind yourself, others will stand next to you and support you on your journey.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

Vancouver is known for its vicinity to nature. I would take them to the local mountains (a fifteen-minute drive from my place) and hike in the majestic rainforest characterized by the soft green moss that blankets trees and the forest ground. Our beaches offer incredible vistas; walking around Stanley Park along the seawall is necessary. Taking my guests on a kayaking adventure for an afternoon into the Georgia Straight or Deep Cove would likely offer sightings of seals or, if lucky, orcas.

Stanley Park Seawall is a must for a leisurely walk or bike ride.

I would take my guests to sample our local food, salmon and oysters, and drink at one of the many local microbreweries.

The Anthropology Museum is an essential visit. It offers a historical perspective of the arts and life of our Indigenous First Nations Peoples.

There is my local neighbourhood, Commercial Drive, as it is a must-see, with all the coffee bars, every ethnic restaurant you can imagine, and the colourful, self-expressive people. Of course, a visit and tour of my studio is a must.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

In my formative years, my mentors, Dennis Burton, Gordon Ryner, and Alan Davies. taught me the skill and discipline of painting, the power of paint, brush and surface. The art movement, the New York School of Abstract Expressionism, guided me to find my full expressive potential. The Feminist art movement showed me the way as a single mother holding onto my art practice, and my children taught me unconditional love.

Website: https://www.lorigoldberg.ca/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorigoldberg.art/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lorigoldberg.art

Image Credits
I took the photos. The artwork are all painted by me. They are recent works that engages in the global conversation about our endangered forests and the journey of single-use plastics on land, air and water.