Bio
Lisa E. Nanni is a sculptor and installation artist whose work uses neon, metal, acrylic and glass to visualize energy flow in our environment. She also creates series of drawings which are inspired by her sculptures. Lisa received her M.F.A. from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University in 1980, after which she lived and worked in Williamsburg, Brooklyn from 1981-2004.
Her work has been exhibited at venues in PA and NY, including the Abington Art Center, The State Museum of Pennsylvania, Manhattanville College, Islip Art Museum, Westbeth Gallery and Governors Island. In addition, she has participated in residency programs at PS 122 Project Studio Award Space, the Vermont Studio Center and a Residency Project - Sculptors Guild on Governors Island. She also created a site-specific neon installation for the Project Wall at the New Arts Program in Kutztown, PA. Lisa currently lives and works in Bucks County, PA.
CV
Solo Exhibitions and Installations
2023
Flow, Solo Exhibition; neon sculptures, small sculptures and drawings, curated by David Tanner, Project Space, Freedman Gallery, Albright College, Reading, PA
2017Neon/Argon Interactions, Site-Specific Installation, curated by James Carroll, The Project Wall, New Arts Program, Kutztown, PA
2012
Solo Series 2012-Summer, Solo Exhibition; neon sculptures and drawings, Tile Room, Abington Art Center, Jenkintown, PA
2006
L.A.S.E.R. (Light Activated Shaft Emitting Rays), Site-Specific Installation, Hallway Project, PS122 Gallery, New York, NY
1994
Neon and Argon Installations, Solo Exhibition/Site-Specific Installation; neon sculptures, curated by Randy Williams, Brownson Gallery, Manhattanville College, Purchase, NY
1989
Signal Gate II, Site-Specific Installation, Hamden Plaza Shopping Center, Hamden, CT
1980
MFA Thesis Show, Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
Selected Group Exhibitions
2023
Final International Invitational Salon of Small Works, New Arts Program, Kutztown, PA
Blurring Boundaries: The Women of American Abstract Artists, 1936 - Present, Mattatuck Museum, Waterbury, CT
ON BALANCE New Work by American Abstract Artists, curated by Mary Birmingham, Art Cake, 214 40th St., Brooklyn, NY
Blurring Boundaries: The Women of American Abstract Artists, 1936 - Present, California Center for the Arts, Escondido, CA
Lilt, Rhythmic Sculptures Move Through Space: Philadelphia Sculptors, curated by TK Smith and Brittany Webb, Noyes Galleries at Kramer Hall, Hammonton, NJ
2022
Blurring Boundaries: The Women of the American Abstract Artists, 1936 - Present, LSU Museum of Art, Baton Rouge, LA
32nd Annual International Invitational Salon of Small Works, The New Arts Program, Kutztown, PA
Blurring Boundaries: The Women of the American Abstract Artists, 1936 - Present, The Richard E. Peeler Art Center, University Gallery, Depauw University, Greencastle, IN
American Abstract Artists: Digital Prints, 2012-2019, Marsh Gallery, Herron School of Art + Design, Indianapolis, IN
2021
AAA Digital Prints 2012-2019, The Gallery of the Visual and Performing Arts, Western Connecticut State University, Danbury, CT
Art of the State 2021, The State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA
Blurring Boundaries: The Women of the American Abstract Artists, 1936 - Present, Freedman Gallery, Albright College, Reading, PA
31st Annual International Invitational Salon of Small Works, New Arts Program, Kutztown, PA
Blurring Boundaries: The Women of the American Abstract Artists, 1936 - Present, Baker Musem, Naples, FL
2020Blurring Boundaries: The Women of the American Abstract Artists, 1936 - Present, Warner Gallery, South Bend Museum of Art, South Bend, IN
AAA 75th Anniversary Print Portfolio and 2019 Monoprint Portfolio, Transmitter, 1329 Willoughby Ave. 2A, Brooklyn, NY
2019
30th Annual International Invitational Salon of Small Works, New Arts Program, Kutztown, PA
"Dream Again", The Plaxall Gallery, Long Island City, NY
Continuity to Change, Recent History of Abstraction, Tower Fine Arts Gallery, The College of Brockport Suny, Brockport, NY
2018
Blurring Boundaries: The Women of the American Abstract Artists 1936 - Present,
Ewing Gallery, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Politics of Space, Sculptors Guild and LIC-A show, Plaxall Gallery, Long Island City, NY
Blurring Boundaries: The Women of the American Abstract Artists 1936 - Present, Clara M. Eagle Gallery, Murray State University, Murray, KY
29th Annual International Invitational Salon of Small Works, New Arts Program, Kutztown, PA
2017
Sculptors Guild Anniversary Exhibition 1937-2017, #7B Nolan Park, Governors Island, NY
28th Annual International Invitational Salon of Small Works, New Arts Program, Kutztown, PA
American Twist, Sculptors Guild traveling exhibition, Antenna Gallery, New Orleans, LA
Conversations, Philadelphia Sculptors, curated by Marc Blumthal, Legend Galleries, Philadelphia, PA
Sculptors Guild Currently 80, curated by John Yau, Westbeth Gallery, NY, NY
2016
American Twist, Sculptors Guild, #15 Nolan Park, Governors Island, NYC
27 Invitational Salon Exhibition of Small Works, New Arts Program, Kutztown, PA
Sculpture New Hope, New Hope Arts Center, New Hope, PA
2015
38th Annual Bucks County Sculptue Show. New Hope Winery, New Hope, PA
Members Salon Show, New Hope Arts, New Hope, PA
Pope Up, curated by M. Moss and M. Gallini, Philadelphia Sculptors, Globe Dye Works, Philadelphia, PA
Laws of Attraction, Sculptors Guild, curated by Richard Timperio, Building #15, Nolan Park, Governors Island, NYC
26th Invitational Salon Exhibition of Small Works, New Arts Program, Kutztown, PA
Sculpture New Hope, New Hope Arts Center, New Hope, PA
2014
Members Group Show, New Hope Arts Center, New Hope, PA
2013
Mixed Messages, Philadelphia Sculptors, Gloucester County College, Sewell, NJ
Art of the State: Pennsylvania 2013, The State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA
Working It Out, curated by Mona Brody, Alyce Gottesman and Jo Ann Rothschild, The Painting Center, NY, NY
New Hope New Media Invitational, New Hope Arts Center, New Hope, PA
Sculpture New Hope, New Hope Arts Center, New Hope, PA
2012
Sculpture New Hope, New Hope Arts Center, New Hope, PA
2011
34th Annual Bucks County Sculpture Show, Keenan Motors, Doylestown, PA
Opposites Attract, Philadelphia Sculptors, University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Inside Outside, Cohen Gallery, Goggle Works, Reading, PA
Sculpture New Hope, New Hope Arts Center, New Hope, PA
An Exchange with Sol LeWitt, MASS MoCA, North Adams, MA
2010
Sculpture New Hope, New Hope Arts Center, New Hope, PA
2008
Generations VI, A.I.R. Gallery, New York, NY
2005
Project Studio Artists, 2004-2005, Classroom Gallery, PS 122, New York, NY
2001
New York Glass, Union Art Gallery at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY
2000
American Glass, curated by Ron Kelman, Fine Arts Museum of Long Island, Hempstead, NY
1999
The Light Show, curated by Catherine Valenza, Islip Art Museum, East Islip, NY
1997
Light it Up, Williamsburg Art & Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY
Current Undercurrent: Working in Brooklyn, Pierogi 2000 flat files, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY
1996
Light and Dark, Deep Space Gallery, New York, NY
On and Off the Wall, Raritan Valley Community College, North Branch, NJ
1992
Salon of the Mating Spiders, The Herron Test-Site Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
1984
Sculpture 84, Beaver College, Glenside, PA
Flat Files
1994-present, Pierogi 2000 Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Awards/Residencies
2021
Ist Place Sculpture, Art of the State 2021, The State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA
2016Residency Project, June-Sept., Sculptors Guild, American Storm Tide, #15 Nolan Park, Governors Island, NYC
2014
Artist Grant, Artist Residency- Oct/Nov, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT
2011
Ist Place, 34th Annual Bucks County Sculpture Show, Doylestown, PA
2005
2004-2005, Project Studio Award, PS 122, New York, NY
Professional Memberships
American Abstract Artists, NY, NY since 2018
Sculptors Guild, NY, NY, 2015-2019
Commissions
1992-1994- Neon consultant for Alice Adams, "Beaded Circle Crossing", permanent installation, Denver International Airport, Denver, Co.
1889-1992- "Signal Gate II", temporary installation, Hamden Plaza Shopping Center, Hamden, CT.
Collections
Private collections in New York, Maryland, New Jersey
Ewing Gallery, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
MFA, Sculpture & Photography, 1980, Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
BA in Art, 1973, Douglass College, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ