Nancy Lorenz American, b. b. 1962

Sea Silver brings a quality of movement to the surface of her work - a shimmering, abstract seascape inspired by the surfaces and fleeting phenomena of nature – especially water and light. Working in mixed media, Nancy Lorenz is a leader and technical master of delicate leafing and enamel techniques and mixed media. Lorenz’s art incorporates traditional craft techniques and opulent materials - such as mother-of-pearl, lacquer, gold and silver leaf – to create sensual, tactile pieces that evoke both Eastern and Western influences.

It has been stated that “Lorenz work engages the current dialogue of contemporary art by juxtaposing a sense of geometry with natural materials.” The resulting tension that she creates between traditional compositional concerns as well as the patterns that naturally occur in nature is the driving force in her works. Lorenz as an accomplished artist is able to balance these ideas in order to create opulent works of striking beauty.

Nancy Lorenz lived in Japan for five years and later worked as a restorer of lacquer antiques. She combines her knowledge and skills of Asian arts, materials and craftsmanship to create unique artworks with highly refined and textural surfaces as is the case with Sea Silver. Her pictures relate to the Asian landscape painting tradition in their ability to evoke a timelessness as well as a feeling of limitless space as seen in this work. Critics have compared her gestural marks and sensual surfaces to the likes of Joan Mitchell, Cy Twombly, and the Arte Povera movement, yet with her own unique blend of East-meets-West aesthetics.