Lilly Visser

My work centers on capturing family portraits, memories, and gatherings. I explore these themes through color, calling upon the general psychological association as well as my own. In some pieces, I utilize monochromatic schemes on each individual subject based on their unique personality; Purple and pinks echo caring, resilience, and boldness; oranges reflect energy, confidence, and creativity; teal is for enthusiasm, groundedness, and loss; and finally, yellows are happiness, joy, and belonging. 

Conversely, I return to the naturalistic colors of photo references in pieces where I want the subject to reflect their true self and history. Specifically, I painted my maternal and paternal grandparents and the five women. I created it to connect with them visually and spiritually. 

The painting of my late aunt Wendy, ‘Woo-Woo,’ as we called her, is a piece that I created to connect my somewhat limited memories {she passed away when I was almost 4} with the stories my family tells of her. The colors reflect her personality and the source material; the photo is a part of the stories. Adding this together gives this painting a much deeper meaning and unites everything.

I created the artworks to reflect on photos and stories; some are with family I spend a lot of time with, and some are with people I mostly know from stories. Creating the works lets me connect with family members who are still alive and those who have passed away. The pieces create an anchor where the stories that are told at family gatherings get a place to live permanently and have a distinctive face. This creates a much deeper connection than just a picture.

Through my paintings, especially those featuring the influential women in my family, I can create an understanding and feeling that I can use to portray them. As a Gen-Z woman artist, I aim to express emotional depth through vibrant color and realism.