The culmination of the commission from the African American Foundation of Bartholomew County (AAFBC) in Columbus, Indiana, was the event that gathered 350 guests in the beautiful space called The Commons. Beyond the beautiful display they did of my drawings, and the joy in the eyes of the recipients, it was a true honor to have been invited on stage for awarding a newly created painting of mine to Tom Harmon, one of the founders of AAFBC, and a pillar of the community.
Contributing to a community is so uplifting!
At the invitation of the African American Foundation of Bartholomew County, in Columbus, Indiana, who was celebrating their 10th anniversary, I was commissioned a series of live drawing to be given to their main donors. I could not have been more inspired by so many people who are contributing to the betterment of their community.
2023 in REVIEW
What a year it has been! Personal highlight was to see the promotion of the show at Arthouse Hotel on the LinkNYC digital screens!
A Terra Futura solo show for the European Sustainable Development Week
Sceaux, a city near Paris, had already hosted Terra Futura in one of their largest schools back in Spring. This time, it is the city hall that gave Louisa L. their gallery space called the "red wall" for a 3-week solo show. People had the chance to watch the videos for the goal of their choice, and engage with the artist during the opening of the exhibition.
Louisa L. announces season 2 of Terra Futura
TERRA FUTURA EXHIBITED AT GAUDI'S LA PEDRERA IN BARCELONA
In December 2022, as part of the broader "Brain Cake" exhibit curated by M.A.D.S. Gallery, Terra Futura 14 (aka Life Below Water) was selected and featured at this unique digital showcase in full screen, as well as with a touch screen. Visitors and art lovers were able to enjoy it at La Pedrera, Casa Mila, the Barcelona famous house and museum designed by Antoni Gaudi.
First stop of the school roadshow: Moyeuvre-Grande!
Over the course of December, the Collège Jean-Burger in Moyeuvre featured Terra Futura in their school. They were kind to welcome me remotely for the opening on December 2nd. I want to wish the 9th graders good luck as they will be preparing their final oral exam to high school where they will use one of the #SDGs and one painting for their presentation.
Terra Futura is featured in the news
In the course of the solo exhibition in Homécourt, Le Républicain Lorrain, the larger press outlet of the whole region, did a full coverage of Terra Futura and its creator Louisa L. on her return to her birth place. Using a mix of photo, video and articles online and on paper, the readers and subscribers got to discover the project and were invited to come to the Pablo Picasso Cultural Center to enjoy the art works.
Terra Futura kicks off in Homécourt, France
The set up of the first exhibition of Terra Futura is complete, as reported by the regional news Le Républicain Lorrain (first article in French below). It will stay for the whole month of October in the Pablo Picasso Cultural Center, using the full width of its welcoming white wall to show the 17 paintings.
The opening in presence of Louisa L. will happen Friday October 7 at 6pm.
Did you say Metaverse? F**U, not the usual exhibition
Any artist would like their work to be seen in an international scene. That’s where the digital world comes into play. I was seduced by the innovative approach M.A.D.S Gallery suggested and I jumped aboard for their F**K U group exhibition, that took a selection of my art works online, and in Milan (Italy) as well as in Fuerteventura (Spain). My first incursion into the metaverse is also exciting. Definitely exploratory at that stage, and that’s what I like about it.
See.Me, a global community of creators supporting artists
It’s great to be featured by See.Me, a community I joined in 2021. Their aim is to support living artists and their careers, helping them to connect with other people who love their work.
Here is a selection of my paintings they promoted on their website and social media platforms, and how mine appeared next to others.
Omniwomen NY, the women network of Omnicom, hosts NewYorkHer
I am glad that NewYorkHer has inspired creative women among the most creative, within the Omnicom advertising and PR world. Omniwomen NY, their network for women in New York, invited me to participate to a discussion panel about “Navigating your career in arts and communications”. It happened the last day of the NewYorkHer exhibit they had in their beautiful lounge downtown New York.
I am very grateful for their dedication to women in the workplace and the fact they ask me to contribute. Most important, I am very happy of the turnout and the engagement among the people who came, including my NewYorkHer “sister” Michele.
The French Consulate hosts NewYorkHer and celebrates extraordinary women
Since Anne-Claire Legendre, first ever woman to be French Consul General in New York, has been in her role, she has been tirelessly promoting the place of women in society. We were so excited when she decided to host NewYorkHer for a special evening event in this ideal setting on Fifth Avenue.
About one hundred guests honored us with their presence, and had the pleasure to meet with the 10 NewYorkHer subjects. On stage with me were Ariane Daguin from D’Artagnan, Ruia Ahmadzada from Nari Skincare, and Alissa Baier-Lentz from Hero Backpacks, to share their stories and journeys. Our wonderful moderator was Jennifer Bisram, TV reporter and anchor journalist from Pix11.
A very memorable evening.
NewYorkHer exhibit @ Arthouse Hotel
The whole ambition of NewYorkHer was to share the experience - combining the paintings and the video stories using augmented reality - with art lovers, activists and those who believe women can change the world, and diversity is bringing positive change.
During two weeks in March, Arthouse Hotel hosted NewYorkHer and multiple events, where some of the portrayed women came and talked to the public.
We had the pleasure of welcoming visitors who heard about the show through the bus stops ads generously offered by our partner JC Decaux North America.
A very special International Women's Day
There couldn’t have been a better way to kick off Women’s History Month but to be invited to present NewYorkHer at Voya Financial.
Gathering their employees part of both women’s and next gen’s networks, and having an art exhibit for the first time in their Midtown Manhattan office, they showed great interest in the paintings and the augmented reality experience. More important, there was a great participation into the discussion with three of the NewYorkHers who came for the opening: Belma, Ruia and Omayra.
The exhibit stayed on for another week, getting extremely good feedback. Thank you again, Voya!
NewYorkHer, my augmented reality exhibition featured on TV!!!
For the first time since I’ve been in NYC, I’ve had the visit of TV news PIX11 to share a preview of my upcoming solo exhibition NewYorkHer.
The show will be at the Arthouse Hotel from March 18 to March 31. I hope you’ll be able to come.
If you are not around, you can be part of NewYork her adventure on Instagram or on Facebook.
The National Association of Women Artists
This month, I had the privilege to be inducted as a new member of NAWA, the National Association of Women Artists. Hard to believe it is the oldest women’s fine art organization in the country, created in 1889.
Before the opening reception in NAWA gallery Midtown Manhattan, where one of my ‘Mother series” painting is exhibited, the new members who were able to make the trip in snowy New York City were invited into the induction ceremony in the prestigious Rubin Museum. A very moving moment I was glad to share with friends and family who came to support me.
Now, as a new member, I plan to help NAWA throughout the year with their event and exhibition program.
Thank you Roche Bobois for a fantastic exhibit
Since January this year, I've been fortunate enough to exhibit 10 of my paintings in the flagship store of Roche Bobois, the upscale furniture brand, located on Madison Avenue and 35th Street. I learned from them that this store is their number 1 in the world, surpassing Paris.
For those of you who visited the place and send me kind messages, I know you have been blown by the prominent golden Eiffel Tower standing there. I have to recognize that the attention to details the team from Roche Bobois had in the curation of the art pieces, along with the positioning of them to match with their collections, had me look with wider perspective to the role any business can have in promoting art.
They decided to take risks by signing with me and keeping my art exhibited for 8 months, and I am eternally grateful to them for that. Now that they've gone public, I wish them the best, and can only hope for future collaborations.
All of these art works are still on sale, should you want to buy them. You can contact me here.
Being supported by the French First Lady pushes me further
Back in November, Brigitte Macron, accompanying her husband President Emmanuel Macron on his official visit, met with some members of the French community.
This lady inspires me: she is a former teacher, she speaks and acts strongly for women to be recognized, she is elegant and classy.
I wanted to pay her a tribute and so I created this gold and ink drawing for her, called "Grace". Not only she received it with spontaneous appreciation, but she had me sent a beautiful email note when she was back in Paris.
Merci, Madame La Presidente !
Jan 20 and 21, acquire an original postcard... and help HIV/AIDS artists
For the third year in a row, I am proud to participate among hundreds of internationally renowned and emerging artists to Postcards From the Edge, a two-day exhibit of postcard-sized artwork.
Each artwork costs $85, and you only discover the name of the artist after buying it. Last year, Postcards From the Edge raised almost $100,000 and we can do better this year, with your help.
Let me know if you go and when. The show is at the Gallery 524 in Chelsea. I shouldn't say it, but my piece is #1022 and I am glad to share a preview with you here.
