Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Palombo.
Hi Lisa, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Art has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I began my formal art education at just nine years old, spending my summers studying at the Rhode Island School of Design. Those early experiences gave me the freedom to experiment, observe and begin developing my own visual language. I later attended and graduated from RISD with honors and have now been fortunate to paint professionally for more than 30 years.
My earliest inspiration came from nature—especially flowers, gardens, water and the way light can completely transform a scene. For nearly three decades, I have painted en plein air at Presby Memorial Iris Gardens here in New Jersey. Over time, my work naturally expanded into waterscapes, wildlife, equine subjects and sports, but the common thread has always been movement, emotion and color. I want people to feel something when they encounter one of my paintings.
Throughout my career, my work has appeared on more than 40 book covers, including several New York Times bestsellers, and has been featured in national publications, galleries, corporate and private collections, and even a Columbia Pictures film. I have also had the opportunity to create official artwork celebrating Secretariat, the Belmont Stakes and other legendary moments in sports and horse racing. Each experience has opened a new door while allowing me to continue evolving as an artist.
Today, I work from my studio in Caldwell, New Jersey, and I still approach each new canvas with the same curiosity and excitement I felt as a young art student. Whether I am painting flowers, horses in full stride, a quiet waterscape or an iconic athlete, I am always trying to capture more than what something looks like—I want to capture its energy, character and spirit.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely not always been a smooth road. Building a long-term career as a professional artist requires much more than creating the work. There are periods of uncertainty, rejection and self-doubt, along with the constant challenge of earning a living while remaining true to your own artistic voice. The business of fine art is not for the faint of heart. Also, trends change, galleries and opportunities come and go, and you have to continually find new ways to connect your work with collectors without allowing the business side to overwhelm the creative side.
Like many women, I have also had to balance my work as an artist with raising a family and managing the many responsibilities of everyday life. There were times when studio hours were limited or opportunities had to be put on hold, but I never stopped painting. I learned to protect whatever creative time I had and to treat my art not simply as a passion, but as a lifelong commitment.
The most important lesson has been learning to keep moving forward. Every disappointment, transition and unexpected turn has pushed me to grow, experiment and become more resourceful. A career in art is rarely a straight line, but I believe the challenges have made me more resilient and have given the work greater depth. Even after more than 30 years, I am still evolving—and that is part of what keeps the journey exciting.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a Contemporary American Impressionist known for my expressive brushwork, vibrant color and paintings that capture a strong sense of movement and emotion. My work includes florals, gardens, waterscapes, wildlife, equine and sporting subjects. Although the subject matter may vary, the connecting thread is always energy, light and spirit. I am less interested in creating a photographic representation than in capturing how a moment feels. I often paint images in my head well before I put my first brushstroke to canvas.
I have become especially known for my equine and horse-racing paintings. Horses are extraordinary subjects because they combine power, grace, beauty and motion. I have been honored to create official artwork celebrating Secretariat, the Belmont Stakes and many other important moments in horse racing. As a result, I’ve been fortunate to paint many winning horses and jockeys. My floral work is equally personal to me. For example, I have painted at Presby Memorial Iris Gardens for nearly 30 years now, and flowers remain one of my first and most enduring sources of inspiration.
What sets my work apart, I believe, is my ability to move across different subjects while maintaining a recognizable artistic voice. Whether I am painting a horse thundering down the stretch, sunlight across the water, a garden in bloom or an iconic athlete, viewers can see the same fearless color, visible brushwork and emotional intensity. I want the human hand to remain present in every painting. The marks, textures and imperfections are part of what give the work life.
I am proud of many milestones—from having my art featured on more than 40 book covers and in major publications, films and collections to being invited to paint at Monet’s Gardens in Giverny. But what makes me most proud is that, after more than 30 years, I am still growing, taking creative risks and connecting with people through my work. When someone tells me that a painting brings back a memory, captures something they love or changes the feeling of a room, that is the most meaningful recognition I can receive.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Spending summers at our lake house in south Rhode Island. I was alone with my mom most of the time. She was always reading or baking something in the kitchen. I would fish, swim, collect blueberries and draw what was around me. I think this was the real foundation to my connection with nature. It was magical.
Pricing:
- $500
- $15,000+
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lisapalombo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisapalomboartist
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisapalombostudios
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lisapalombostudios
- Twitter: https://x.com/lisapalomboart
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lisapalombo
