Lisa Kinzelberg b. 1979

Lisa Kinzelberg is an American visual artist known for her highly textural, abstract oil paintings. Her complex, layered and meditative works are part of prominent private collections. Based in Chicago, she released her “Cities of the World” in 2024, and it is steadily becoming a notable series, featured on the cover of PARK Magazine NY, and discussed in depth on the Voice of New York/I Heart Radio prior to its debut and sold out show at SCOPE Art Fair in Miami.

Drawing from her travels, Lisa’s “Cities of the World” is a unique take on maps. Each painting is of a particular city or neighborhood, and has an aesthetic that captures the unique flavor, energy, vibe and feel of that town, based on Lisa’s personal experiences there, or on the idea of the location if she has yet to go.

She begins each piece by creating an abstract oil painting of the energetic “underlayer” of the town -- with colors and treatments selected to symbolize what is special about the city. For example, in her painting of Miami, she referenced colors from an Hermes ad in Vogue to emphasize luxury, commerce, land and sea. Lisa then paints the factual features of the city including roads, parks, lakes, golf courses and other landmarks, creating a work that at once defines the city but can stand alone as an abstract painting. The aerial view of each location is inspired by a plane descending into a city.

Lisa wants “Cities of the World” to represent what a particular city means to the viewer, whether it is the town they grew up in, where they love to travel or simply the place they call “home.” Her philosophy is that art should hold ambiguity and allow the viewer to realize something about themselves, to understand themselves better, to experience the “awe of human being,” and ultimately feel gratitude. “Cities” as a whole celebrates our shared culture as well as our unique experiences tied to a place; the infrastructures we have built; our sense of community… as well as the freedom and joy of travel and exploration.