Artist Statement

I am  attracted to the use of vibrant designs to explorate societal contradictions. I work in series using acrylic painting and a variety of mixed media to  examine the interplay of social expectation. My process includes the destruction of my own paintings to be repurposed and reincorporated to mirror the pathway societies have shown us for picking up the pieces to build for a hopeful future. This style of collage incorporates elements of hand and machine sewing and quilting, which was taught to me by my mother as a traditional and necessary skill for a woman to bring to her household.

My artworks mainly explore the concept of cultural, society and political imprisonment. Through portraiture and storytelling,  I celebrate the courage and acts of women who have dared to challenge the self-imposed and societal prisons around them, acknowledging that we must sometimes stand alone in order to accomplish our goals.

About Lisbet

Born into a Norwegian family that has farmed the same plot of land for over a hundred years, Lisbet Axell grew up surrounded by animals and green things, which cultivated a lifelong appreciation for creations great and small — and the earth that they inhabit. Driven by an innate curiosity, she set out to see the oceans, forests, and cities of the wider world.

A peripatetic decade ensued, wherein Lisbet Axell spent years alternating between Germany, Australia, Japan, Spain, Costa Rica, and the East (Washington, DC, North Carolina) and the West (California and Oregon).

Drawing on her experiences from around the world, Lisbet Axell explores the complexities and contradictions surrounding societal issues and gender equality. Her practice blends the inter-dynamic and environmental factors into larger social justice themes.

Her current home is outside of Washington, D.C. in Alexandria, Virginia, where she lives with her husband and her dogs–Djupvik, Nixon, and Ripley. Her artworks are currently held in private collections across the USA and Africa.