Lisa Fedon
Artist Bio 2018
Lisa Fedon was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania in 1955. Having been introduced to art at an early age, she was 5 when a project at a Saturday art class left a lasting impression. Using string covered with glue, she wrapped it around a balloon and let it dry. When the balloon was popped, what remained was a 3-dimensional “balloon” shape defining space. Later and throughout her career as an artist, conveying the life that exists within and beyond the physical has fascinated Lisa.
While attending The Pennsylvania State University, Lisa was influenced by Alexander Calder’s early work. Therefore upon the completion of a BFA degree in printmaking, Lisa began developing her skills and techniques working with wire and mixed media. While experimenting and teaching herself the properties of creating sculpture with line, Lisa’s intent was to simplify as much as possible, using as little material as necessary, while still incorporating volume.
Even though the simplification of Giacometti’s figures was intriguing to Lisa, she was also inspired by the work of Paul Klee, Mondrian and Frank Lloyd Wright.
Learning to weld had a significant technical effect on Lisa’s work. It opened up possibilities for functional sculpture as well as outdoor public commissions leading to major works at the University of Scranton, McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts in Scranton, PA, East Stroudsburg University in East Stroudsburg, PA and the Arlington Public Library in Arlington, VA. She also completed projects for US Healthcare in Blue Bell, PA, Citizen Watch in Tokyo, Japan and was invited to show at the Allentown Art Museum, Allentown, PA. / Life’s Journey – Steel Sculptures by Lisa Fedon.
Throughout her career Lisa’s subtle use of humor and allegory expressed a message that reflected her life. Her sculptures emerged from the void capturing spirit, where steel and mixed media utilized space, while the meaning and subject of her work evolved. Initially her focus dealt with friends and personal relationships. After having children, Lisa’s concerns revolved around the family. Now that her children are grown, her focus pertains to society and the world. All the while, there is recognition of fullness within the void of her sculptures.
Having recently completed a 9-month artist residency at the Santa Reparata International School of Art in Florence, Italy, Lisa’s experience supported her direction towards a simplification of form and a reflection of the influences of space as related to the spiritual within architecture.
