Philosophy

Elizabeth LaPides is an East coast raised, California based artist who focuses on climate change and its science-fiction history of visuals and metaphors. Elizabeth has been passionate about art from an early age with her involvement in the family gallery and extensive contemporary art collection. Her own practice started with photography and travel around the world, including time spent deep in the Amazonian jungle documenting fungi. During her undergraduate studies Elizabeth discovered sculpture and installation leading to her first large scale project of building a small house, gardens, and a barn. Her research about climate change began during her undergrad and has continued into her graduate work. Inspired by the visual language of science fiction, science reports, and nature Elizabeth creates work that captures the psychological and emotional effects of the changing environment.

CV/Resume

Education

Massachusetts College of Art and Design, BFA in Photography

School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University, MFA

Experience

2022-present

Freelance Writer, GetAbstract.com, Luzerne, Switzerland

• Read, analyze and summarize published books from disciplines such as; history, business, finance, women’s rights, technology and fashion into condensed five page articles with a journalistic style.

Program Director, Nearby Gallery, Newton, MA

• Community outreach and education program manager, build/market classes and workshops, manage and coordinate downstairs gallery for rentals, artist studio use.

Private Art Collection Deaccession and Sales, Santa Fe, NM

• Cataloged, researched, appraised, cleaned, moved and selling a private estate collection of contemporary art, including works from Herb Ritts, Alex Katz, Peter Beard, Andy Warhol, David Lynch and Julie Speed.

Graphic Design and Website Building, self-employed

• Utilizing Squarespace, procreate, and illustrator, marketing and Search Engine Optimization research and implementation.

• Current finished websites: elizabethlapides.com artbysko.com

2021-2016

Substitute Teacher, Santa Cruz County, CA

• California Basic Skills certified teacher, grades 4 -12, San Lorenzo Valley High (English 12, Statistics, AP Biology, AP History) San Lorenzo Valley Middle (US History, Spanish, Math) Harbor High (Black and White Photography, Photography/Videography 101, Sculpture), Pacific Collegiate Charter (Ancient History), Santa Cruz High (French, Art), Westlake Elementary (5th grade)

• Long term position at Pacific Collegiate Charter School, 8th and 9th grade Ancient history, Fall 2021

AWARDS AND GALLERY SHOWS

2021

• 5th Annual Black and White Competition, Fusion Art Gallery, 2021 https://www.fusionartps.com/5th-annual-black-white-art-exhibition-february-2021/

• MFA COVID Thesis, Tufts Galleries, Boston MA, 2021

2020

• As Above, So Below, MFA Thesis at Tufts, Medford MA, 2020

• Shifting Sights, Area Gallery, Boston MA, 2020

• Into the Mystic, Porter Gallery, Somerville MA, 2020

2019

• Connectivity, RSM Gallery, Boston MA, 2019

• Wasteland on Earth, Harvard Portal Gallery, Boston MA, 2019 https://www.unboundvisualarts.org/the-waste-land-on-earth/

• Out of This World, Mission Hill Gallery SMFA, Boston MA, 2019

• Verdant, co-curated SMFA, Boston MA, 2019

Boynes Emerging Artist Award, Boynes Emerging Artist Foundation, Melbourne Australia, 2021 https://boynesartistaward.com/interviews/photographer-elizabeth-lapides

Yousof Karsh Prize, SMFA, Boston, MA 2019 https://karsh.org/diego-galbadon-elizabeth-lapides-and-nolan-weinschenk-are-the-2019-karsh-prize-winners/

Montague Travel Grant, SMFA, Boston, MA 2019

SKILLS

ART SKILLS:

• Digital Photographic Cameras, Nikon D800, Sony Alpha, Canon and Fuji

• DJI Drone

• Photographic Cameras (large, medium and 35mm)

• Photographic Darkroom, Black and white and color

• Fluent in: Photoshop, Lightroom, Procreate and Squarespace

• Working Knowledge in: Illustrator and Final Cut Pro

• Woodworking, sculpture skills, including: mold making, basket weaving, resin casting

• Ceramics: wheel throwing - bowls, plates, cups vases, glazing, hand building, slabs, and firing in basic kiln cone 6-10 and soda ash

• Drawing, observational and reference

CONSTRUCTION SKILLS:

• Built residence in Bonny Doon CA, 2015. Project management, framing, concrete, stucco, tile and grout, sustainable architecture, electrical, solar, copper pipe soldering, and basic plumbing.

• Converted a Ram Pro-master van into a camper, 2021 complete with solar, lithium ion battery, fridge, propane stove, propane hot water heater, water tank and plumbing, bed, shower, sink, compostable toilet, wood paneled interior, led lights, outlets, storage and reversible front seat.