BIO
Lori Harrison is an award winning, visual artist with a studio practice in Toronto. Lori first gained recognition through her textile and furniture design work, which has been featured in prominent publications such as House and Home, Toronto Makes, Design Sponge and others. During this time Lori returned to her painting roots and began creating in earnest on the side. In 2018 she made the decision to focus solely on her art practice, and since then her work has been steadily gaining interest and acquisitions among private and public collectors across North America. She has exhibited her work in numerous juried group shows, with her first solo show in 2022.
ARTIST STATEMENT
My work explores the intersection of the natural world and the manufactured world through the lens of entropy and disruption. In my studio practice I investigate how – through human or environmental processes – urban environments decay and evolve, shifting from an ordered, right-angled newness to a weathered palimpsest, returning back to nature. More recently, I examine this idea from a landscape perspective, focusing on the idea of the anthropocene and how we are irrevocably altering the landscape.
I choose to depict this intersection with beauty, celebrating the intimate tension we sense, and how it manifests in the real world around us. To me, this beauty is material and analog. My work is tactile; I use textures – pieces of fabrics sewn together, plaster, paints and found objects – to give physicality to this tension and remind us of the importance of the physical world.
“ I began life as an artist and with all hope and intent I will die as an artist. ”
A LITTLE MORE OF MY STORY
Like many creatives I got distracted by ideas about identity, success and societal expectations. I thought it was a safer bet to go into more commercially viable creative career like graphic design and marketing thinking it’s the best of both worlds. Now in my forties I see the folly in my thinking. While I have been fortunate to work for some very interesting organizations like arts museums and cool start-ups using design for social good, I felt deeply unsatisfied.
About 15 years ago I started making products, textiles mostly, but also furniture and home goods. I loved the creative process and the thrill of making a design come to life but also found something missing. The creative part was great but I quickly realized that to be successful most of my time would have to be spent managing production, marketing and business development. I missed the immediacy and physicality of making with my own two hands.
With the encouragement of my amazing, supportive husband (thank you universe for sending me this incredible man) he got me painting again in the summer of 2011 (I hadn’t picked up a paint brush in over 15 years). I have been making art ever since. And yet it has took me until 2018 to think seriously about being an artist. I got myself a studio, the first time I have had a dedicated space to create, and began the weird and wonderful journey of developing my professional art practice. Being an artist is wacky and there doesn’t seem to be any proper play book (although I have some suggestions I could share) but it’s the most rewarding thing I have done in my life. It is my calling. Which is great and all but if you are wondering how I’m making it work, I kept a part time job for several years until I was finally ready to take the leap in February of 2023. The unpredictability is unnerving for sure but I’m determined to make it work - so far so good!
I started out life as an artist. I was always creating, always drawing and I even went to a special fine arts high school - think Fame (those under 40 look it up). I loved it. It was one of the best times of my life creatively. And then in my teenage wisdom, decided I would go to Queen’s and be a poly sci major thus embarking on one hell of a detour. Of course the writing was on the wall within the first year. But when the universe offered up a second chance by way of acceptance into Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design (after completing my BA at Queen’s) I chose NOT TO GO! Well I say how many times do you need to get hit with a hammer to know it hurts. I get it. I finally accept and embrace my calling. I am an artist. It may be later than I would have liked but I truly believe in it’s never too late. I found my way to art.
So my parting wisdom to you all…. if you keep getting hit with a hammer. Listen and get out of the way.
