Lisa Laohaphan

About the Artist

Visual art has been an important part of Lisa Laohaphan’s life for as long as she can remember. Growing up in Washington DC, Laohaphan had access to a variety of art and cultural experiences. As a young adult, Laohaphan attended Clark University where she studied sociology. After graduation, she moved back to the DC area and eventually began working for an international software company. Her new job required her to travel, and in a few years she had visited over 35 states and made dozens of trips to Europe. It was a work trip to New York City that finally pushed her from art appreciator to painter. Walking back to her hotel one night, Laohaphan looked up at the snowflakes falling between the tall buildings around her and thought they looked like stars against the dark sky. When she returned home, she felt compelled to capture and record the moment and purchased her first canvas and paints.  While her first painting was a challenge, she found it to be a welcome distraction from the pressures of hectic work life. In 2015, Laohaphan showed her art publicly for the first time, participating in a regional art fair. Her work was well received and she sold most of her paintings. Encouraged, she continued to develop her skills and her individual style as a painter. Her time spent traveling Asia, the U.S., and Europe heavily influenced her view of the world and her art.  Laohaphan works out of her studio in Rockville, MD.  

Artist's Statement

I would describe my style as capturing a memory or moment in a flat but colorful way. I layer simple shapes and use tape to mask the edges to achieve my signature look. In my work, I share the delight I feel when a zesty tomato sauce hits my tongue or the wide-eyed wonder I feel standing on the bow of the Staten Island ferry.  In the distillation of color, shape, and composition, I try to be true to the view as I collect moments and translate them into bold, geometric images.