Los Angeles-born Elizabeth Lana, holds a dual degree in fine arts and arts education from the University of San Francisco, and the Academy of Art; San Francisco, yet for decades she lacked the time to devote herself fully to her passion. But a chance encounter with an encouraging stranger in 2018 prohead her to join the collaborative creative community of Susquehanna Il at the Homewood branch of Radiant Hall, and the rest, as they say, is history. She has painted and shown continuously since then, at venues as diverse as G1/CW in Bloomfield, Weisshouse and Penhollows in Shadyside, and the pop- up Busnegie International in Oakland. "Solstice" is her second exhibition at Christine Frechard Gallery, preceded by "Order and Chaos" in 2019.
In 2020 Lana was awarded the Denis Diderot Grant to server as an artist in residence at Chateau d'Orquevaux in Orquevaux, France; an adventure that was cut short by COVID-19. During Lockdown, her online sales of small works for the benefit of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank attracted the attention of the Washington Post, which recognized her in a July 2020 article titled "The Best Pandemic Art."
The expansive, expressive brushstrokes and vivid hues of her most recent works reflect the influence of Santa Fe, New Mexico, which she visited earlier this year. They were created at her current studio in Lawrenceville's Ice House, where she is often accompanied by her rescue greyhound, Stella.
