Mesmerizing brushstrokes, subtle color palettes, and eye catching objects engage you as your explore Lisa Albinger paintings. A local artist who’s work is often characterized as “Surrealism” and “Abstraction” while her work goes beyond the traditional, utilizing and exploring personal and intimate topics, such as health, relationships, gender, and sexuality.

Albinger’s work the last few years has focused on small scale works of Human-animal hybrid beings that speak to honoring one’s body, and overcoming obstacles. Some brilliant examples of this work are fascinating pieces such as “Tea for Two” and “Madre”. Her recent work has taken her in a new direction, working in a larger format creating abstract pieces that combined with found materials for a series entitled “The V Experience”. These paintings encompass a cross pollination between unabashed sexuality, health, and maps, which is obvious in her paintings “Child of the 80’s” and “Pear-Honey-Brie”. When asked about the direction of her work Albinger says, “Society is increasingly forced to face the ultimately inescapable issues of gender, health, sexuality and self and I see "Maps" weaving a web between these fragile fragments and somehow continue to guide us on our journey.”

2014 has been a busy year of exhibiting her artwork, including shows at the AZ Science Center planetarium, R. Pela Contemporary Gallery, Phoenix Center for the Arts, and Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum. During the summer her artwork was even featured on PBS’s Arizona Horizon program. Her artwork has been published in over 20 publications and is also included in the permanent collection of the Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum. Currently she is exhibiting work at Shade West Gallery in downtown Phoenix in the solo exhibition “Cornucopia Dreams”, highlighting nine of her most recent paintings. These works examine a transition the artist experienced within her life and work from September 2013 - August 2014. Cornucopia Dreams is on view through November so be sure to stop by Shade West Gallery, which is located in the west wing of the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel, located at 50 E Adams St., Phoenix.

The artist has recently self published a 2015 calendar highlighting her recent work along with older favorites that can be purchased online for just $15. She is currently busy in her studio creating, working towards her next upcoming April 2015 exhibition at Willo North Gallery. For more information about this talented local artist and her beautiful artwork visit www.lisaalbinger.com and follow her on Twitter @lisaalbinger. All images courtesy of Artist.