Lucy Meade
Artists Statement
For more than a decade, I have been a representational oil painter, enjoying time in the studio and painting plein-air. In recent years, I have been on parallel tracks, painting representationally and experimenting with abstraction through cold wax and mixed media.
My representational paintings are inspired by the natural beauty of our environment, as well as places I have visited. The light and landscapes are so different from place to place and moment by moment. I love the ever changing and powerful skies that illuminate the land and sea. There are timeless and meditative qualities to landscapes and seascapes.
When I was at university, painting abstractly came naturally, however many years later it did not. It was a challenge at first, until I experimented with numerous processes and techniques that helped me loosen up. While working on these abstract works, the process is intuitive and experimental with each color choice and layer building towards the final composition. I love the unpredictable intersections between colors and shapes, the flow.
My palette is described as happy and cheerful, which reflects who I am as well as the subject matter for both the representational and abstract works. I enjoy exploring the relationship between shapes, movement, and the luminosity of colors.
The representational paintings and the abstract works on paper were created independently and are not meant to speak to each other, but maybe they do?
Serendipity appears to be at play here.
Artistic Journey
At Hollins College, now Hollins University, I majored in art history and minored in studio art. I studied abroad in Paris focusing on studio art, art history, and the Eurail pass schedule for weekend getaways. I left a painting on display in Paris hanging at Mother Earth; a fun restaurant/bar near the George Pompidou Center.
During the years since then, the Richmond community, particularly Downtown, has served as my creative canvas through my profession and volunteer board roles. Professionally, I have been a champion of Richmond’s creativity, innovation, revitalization, and future. For 34 years, I have helped engage business and community leaders, in partnership with the city, to enhance the vitality of Richmond, particularly downtown, through economic development, marketing, promotion, advocacy and events. My role has allowed the opportunity to initiate and execute many programs that continued to make Richmond a more vibrant, creative, and economically successful community. As a community leader, I have served on numerous boards for a variety of organizations. Two art organizations that I am passionate about are 1708 Gallery and Visual Arts Center of Richmond.
When I turned 50, I decided to have 50 new adventures to mark the occasion and one of those was to get back to creating art. For the first couple of years, I just explored different mediums, but my interest in oil painting re-emerged and I have been painting at the VMFA Studio School ever since. For nine summers, I spent concentrated time painting at Nimrod Hall in Bath County Virginia. During Covid, I started painting 9-12 hours a week at the VMFA and have continued that pace (on top of a very full-time career). I am so inspired and encouraged by the amazing group of artists I have had the pleasure of spending so much time with and greatly appreciate each, and every one of you.
Learning from and working with some of Richmond’s great painters and friends has been an incredible journey—Thank you Diego Sanchez, Joan Elliott, Andy Bality, Martha Prideaux, Sally Bowring, Maria Reardon, Louis Poole, Matt Lively, Mary Holland, and many more.
Abbreviated CV
Lives and works in Richmond, VA
Select Exhibitions
2024 Solo Exhibition, Serendipity at Endeavour Hall, St. Catherine’s School, Richmond, VA
2024 Honorable Mention for Mixed Media, Bath County Art Show, Bath County, VA
2016-2024 Multiple VMFA Studio School Exhibits, Richmond, VA
2021-2023 Bath County Art Show, Bath County, VA
2023 Art Space Think Small Show, Richmond, VA
2022-current Crossroads Art Center, Richmond, VA
Select Collections
In collections in Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Wyoming; maybe still France!
To purchase or inquire, contact Lucy Meade at lmeade2010@gmail.com.
