Classification and Nomenclature of Clouds
Liza’s exhibition at Lehmann Maupin Classification and Nomenclature of Clouds, spread across both Chelsea locations from September 6th to October 27th, 2018, shows off her characteristic beaded sculptures.
The most impressive (in scale that is) is the work that spans 50ft by 23ft, taking up the entire wall of Lehman’s new two story gallery space in Chelsea.
I often meet people who tell me that they just love beads. Before, I would have said, “Uh, how nice for you,” But now, I want to tell them, "No you don’t; I love beads. You have no idea what we’ve been through together.”- Liza Lou
This exhibition is (not shockingly) inspired by the clouds in the two cities where Liza lives (Durban, South Africa and Los Angeles). She painted these clouds on her classic foundation of beaded cloths.
‘Classification and Nomenclature of Clouds is inspired by an essay written by Luke Howard, who had a talent for naming clouds in such a way people felt a personal connection and understanding to them.
Liza Lou was born in New York, raised in L.A. and now lives in South Africa (what a journey). She’s perhaps one of the most unique artists I’ve come across due to her material of choice - glass beads, used at an unimaginable scale.
And not only does Liza's work have an impact on the art world, her studio in Durban, South Africa, employs over 25 women and men, breathing life into a struggling, poverty infiltrated community.
"Maybe I could work with women where it actually made a sizable difference to their ability to survive in the world and maybe there is a place where people actually work with beads and have an indigenous relationship to the material. And that lead me to South Africa." - Liza Lou in TL Magazine
The joy and community Liza found in Durban is the reason she now splits her time between South Africa and Los Angeles.
Her most famous work - 'The Kitchen,' took five years to complete was Liza's bridge from art school drop-out (they thought beads were a craft material and not appropraite for fine art) to bonified fine artist. 'The Kitchen' was noticed by Marcia Tucker (past director of The New Museum) and the rest was history. The piece is now in the Whitney Museum of Art permaneant collection.
Some famous collectors of Liza Lou's work include François Pinault and Eileen and Peter Norton (aka Norton Anti-Virus).
Lou is represented by three galleries globally (and three pretty-big-deal galleries at that):
White Cube: London
Lehmann Maupin: New York
Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac: Paris
To learn more about Liza you can also visit her personal website or Instagram.
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