“I seek to create an opulent feeling through rendering sparkling surfaces, saturated colors, and textures of our fashion and technology-conscious society. My paintings rely on the viewer’s desire to see pleasing images. Yet, within the lush imagery resides a psychological element – a memory, some light-hearted social commentary, or an ironic or surrealistic aspect that is encountered upon closer inspection.
These paintings are from my series titled “Dutch Florals,” inspired by classical still life images and incorporating costume jewelry pieces bequeathed to me by my late mother-in-law, Martha Crary Halpern. She was herself an artist, historian and an avid collector. At the time of her death in 2005 she owned virtually every piece of the Joan Rivers QVC Collection of costume jewelry. Using these marvelous objects as subject matter has afforded me a way to celebrate and remember this extraordinary woman who I greatly miss.”
Lisa Ficarelli-Halpern received her BFA in surface design from Parsons the New School for Design, and earned her MFA in painting from New Jersey City University. Prior to receiving her graduate degree in fine art, Lisa served as an executive designer for the Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation, overseeing all areas of home design. She has widely exhibited in numerous solo and group juried exhibitions, in venues including The Shirin New York Gallery, the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, and the Zhou B. Art Center in Chicago.
