Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisette Schumacher
Hi Lisette, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Ten years ago I graduated as an autonomous visual artist from the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. I combined being an artist with being a teacher at highschool for nine years. I was teaching Arts, cultural and artistic education and art history. A little over a year ago it was time to make a choice; the combination of having two (never ending) jobs and a young family had started to wear me out. I needed to make a choice to stay healthy in the long run. I chose my biggest passion: Art! Although I occasionally miss teaching and miss my former colleagues, I do know in my heart that I have made the right choice. As an artist I can take many people along on my artistic journey of finding inspiration, doing research and translating it into abstract art. Over the past ten years I have gotten to know so many people with a passion for art. People have followed my journey for years and these people are essential to me. They tell me how they experience my art. My art isn’t just to look at, but it is definitely essential to experience it. When I hear my artwork intrigues people and that they can relate to my artistic research, I feel such joy.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It took years to get my company out of the red digits. I grew organically, taking step by step, setting myself new targets every year. Right before Covid I was ready to quit my teaching job but decided not to, to avoid risks. Apart from being right on that part, they were also two very valuable years for me as a teacher, as I could make a difference for struggling pupils. They were definitely my toughest years of teaching but also fulfilling. After staying for another year I was ready to take that step. Now I feel so much lighter, it is so nice to focuss on one job and to delve deep and become an even better artist. I feel very confident about my artistic career and all that is to come. It is also easier to travel which makes my connection with Los Angeles more firm.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a visual artist with a strong interest in modern architecture. I travel to visit architecture with historical value in Europe and the USA. I am currently focussing on mid-century modern architecture in Los Angeles. My interest lies in the idea that architecture engenders a basic physical experience prior to also initiating an intellectual interpretation. By observing the location intensely and moving through each room repeatedly, I can both experience the space in a physical way and interpret it intellectually. After studying the site’s history and architect, a period of in-depth research into technique, material and colour schemes follows. This results in a series of works that reflect on the site’s atmosphere, history and its design.
In 2017 I started an extensive research on the designs of Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier for four and a half years. I traveled to France numerous times to visit and experience his mysterious and still very modern monastery, chapel, church, living communities and his private home in Paris. In 2022 I got the chance to do a month long residency in Venice. This residency opportunity enabled me to start a research into mid century modern architecture in the Los Angeles area. In 2023 and 2024 I returned to deepen my research. When I arrived in Los Angeles last August to participate in an artfair, it felt like coming home. By now I know the city quite well and will continue to get to know the city better by each visit. There is always a reason to come back to LA!
I am very proud of having built an enormous wooden installation. I applied a selection of original colour tones to create an immersive environment of colour. Bright and neutral colour tones combined with the flowing, organic shapes of the installation, form a harmonious whole that visitors can experience in a playful way by wandering through this labyrinth. I picked the colors from a color scheme designed by architect Le Corbusier to see if his intention of creating harmony in the living or working environment still worked.
What sets me apart is my passion for architecture. Ever since I was a kid I have enjoyed architecture, and later on as a teacher I was always most excited when I was teaching the pupils about modern architecture. In Los Angeles there are so many outstanding historic buildings. There are still some buildings on my bucketlist, like the Sheats Residence.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
To protect my work. I use self invented techniques to create the cinematographic effect in my works. With a lawyer I have made sure my technique is protected from copying. Even though the technique is intricate, I felt the need to protect my intellectual rights. Taking these steps have made sure I sleep a lot better at night.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lisetteschumacher.com
- Instagram: @lisetteschumacher
Image Credits
Personal photo: photography Jacqueline Fuijkschot* please upload after November 1st due to use of this photo in an artist spotlight post on Instagram on November 1.
installation: Heroshots
photo with chandelier: taken in GLB Properties restored home (they like to be mentioned)
*all photos have an image description in the name of the file
