About Lisa Kijak
California artist Lisa Kijak finds inspiration in the distressed surfaces of items left to weather the elements of sun, wind and rain. In her Neon series, Kijak explores the details of vintage neon signs that are broken and worn down and elevates them, calling attention to them and giving them new life. She uses layers of fabric and thread to mimic the peeling paint, faded patinas and scratched surfaces of these signs, sewing together thousands of pieces of fabric to develop two dimensional works that feel painterly in their approach.
Kijak earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic design and printmaking from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, as well as a Masters in Art Therapy from Loyola Marymount University. Her work has been shown in juried and invitational exhibitions throughout the United States and Europe.
EDUCATION
BFA 1994 Visual Arts Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University
MA 2009 Art Therapy Loyola Marymount University
EXHIBITIONS
2019
Layered & Stitched: 50 Years of Innovative Art, Quilt Festival Houston, Houston, TX
2016
ArtQuilt Elements 2016, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA
2015
Quilt National 2013, European Patchwork Festival, St. Marie-aux-Mines, France
2014
Quilt Visions 2014: The Sky's the Limit, Visions Art Museum: Contemporary Quilts + Textiles, San Diego, CA, 2014
Quilt National 2013, Riffe Gallery, Columbus, OH
Quilt National 2013, Oceanside Museum of Art, Oceanside, CA
2013
Quilt National 2013, St. Louis University Museum of Art, St. Louis, MO
Quilt National 2013, Dairy Barn Art Center, Athens, OH, 2013. Touring exhibition.
Rituals, Dinner at Eight Artists, European Patchwork Festival, Maarheeze, The Netherlands
2012
Quilt Visions 2012: Brainstorms, Visions Art Museum: Contemporary Quilts + Textiles, San Diego, CA, 2012
Rituals, Dinner at Eight Artists, International Quilt Festival, Long Beach CA
2011
Interpretations 2011, Visions Art Museum: Contemporary Quilts + Textiles, San Diego, CA, 2011
Bridges, Quilts on The Wall Fiber Artists, touring exhibition, 2011
Awards
President's Award, Quilt Visions 2012: Brainstorms
GRANTS
Sustainable Arts Foundation, Promise Award, 2015
PUBLICATIONS
Quilt Visions 2014: The Sky’s the Limit, Exhibition catalog. Visions Art Museum, CA, 2014.
Seward, Linda. The Ultimate Guide to Art Quilting, Sixth&Spring Books, NY, 2014.
Quilt National 2013: Best of Contemporary Quilts, Exhibition catalog. Dragon Threads, OH, 2013.
Kinard, Lyric Montgomery. (2014, August). Artist Q&A; Lisa Kijak. Quilting Arts Magazine, 64, pp 5458.
Quilt Visions 2012: Brainstorms, Exhibition catalog. Visions Art Museum, CA, 2012.
Rituals, Exhibition catalog. Dinner at Eight Artists, CA, 2012.
Kijak earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic design and printmaking from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, as well as a Masters in Art Therapy from Loyola Marymount University. Her work has been shown in juried and invitational exhibitions throughout the United States and Europe.
EDUCATION
BFA 1994 Visual Arts Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University
MA 2009 Art Therapy Loyola Marymount University
EXHIBITIONS
2019
Layered & Stitched: 50 Years of Innovative Art, Quilt Festival Houston, Houston, TX
2016
ArtQuilt Elements 2016, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA
2015
Quilt National 2013, European Patchwork Festival, St. Marie-aux-Mines, France
2014
Quilt Visions 2014: The Sky's the Limit, Visions Art Museum: Contemporary Quilts + Textiles, San Diego, CA, 2014
Quilt National 2013, Riffe Gallery, Columbus, OH
Quilt National 2013, Oceanside Museum of Art, Oceanside, CA
2013
Quilt National 2013, St. Louis University Museum of Art, St. Louis, MO
Quilt National 2013, Dairy Barn Art Center, Athens, OH, 2013. Touring exhibition.
Rituals, Dinner at Eight Artists, European Patchwork Festival, Maarheeze, The Netherlands
2012
Quilt Visions 2012: Brainstorms, Visions Art Museum: Contemporary Quilts + Textiles, San Diego, CA, 2012
Rituals, Dinner at Eight Artists, International Quilt Festival, Long Beach CA
2011
Interpretations 2011, Visions Art Museum: Contemporary Quilts + Textiles, San Diego, CA, 2011
Bridges, Quilts on The Wall Fiber Artists, touring exhibition, 2011
Awards
President's Award, Quilt Visions 2012: Brainstorms
GRANTS
Sustainable Arts Foundation, Promise Award, 2015
PUBLICATIONS
Quilt Visions 2014: The Sky’s the Limit, Exhibition catalog. Visions Art Museum, CA, 2014.
Seward, Linda. The Ultimate Guide to Art Quilting, Sixth&Spring Books, NY, 2014.
Quilt National 2013: Best of Contemporary Quilts, Exhibition catalog. Dragon Threads, OH, 2013.
Kinard, Lyric Montgomery. (2014, August). Artist Q&A; Lisa Kijak. Quilting Arts Magazine, 64, pp 5458.
Quilt Visions 2012: Brainstorms, Exhibition catalog. Visions Art Museum, CA, 2012.
Rituals, Exhibition catalog. Dinner at Eight Artists, CA, 2012.