Liisa Kruusmägi's deliciously rich, layered artworks

Date
4 January 2017

Estonian artist Liisa Kruusmägi’s work is textured not only stylistically, but in content too. Her work appears rich with a flavoursome colour palette represented by layer upon layer of thick brushstrokes or pencil marks. Whether Liisa is depicting detailed interiors or characterful personalities the artist explains she has a simple aim to give the audience "a good laugh or just a good expression”.

After graduating from her masters in fine art from the Estonian Academy of Arts in 2013, Liisa has since taken the freelance artistic route. This career decision has given Liisa the freedom to dip her toes in an enthusiastic range of creative pursuits: exhibitions, illustrational projects, collaborative work, animations, performances or sculptures. This wealth of practices is influenced by her various travels. “I am travelling a lot," Liisa explains. “It gives me the power to do new things.” This includes residencies in two very different cities. “One residency was at the James Black Gallery in Vancouver, the other was at AIRY based in the small town of Kofu, Japan. It was a big culture shock to me, totally different from all that I have experienced before! I also lived in Chicago for a month participating in a friend’s performances and visited my sister in Indonesia. I think all of those travels are somehow in each of my new artworks.”

Liisa remains to regularly practice within the realms of drawing and painting, two mediums she identifies with the most. “Painting gives a strange feeling to me. Working with colours and how they work together is powerful," the artist explains. "Drawing is more of a fast expression, I usually like to draw on quite a small scale. I love colour, different pens and pencils or makers.”

However the artist plans to combine her numerous practices in an installation as part of an exhibition at Vaal gallery in Tallinn in February. The exhibition will explore “fears, disgust and uncomfortable moments. I have a little bit on dark topics but I like to depict them in more of a funny way. As in life, drama and comedy always come together”.

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Liisa Kruusmägi: House Party

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Liisa Kruusmägi: Philosophy

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Liisa Kruusmägi: Interview

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Liisa Kruusmägi: Pacific Ave

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Liisa Kruusmägi: Rainy Day

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Liisa Kruusmägi: Empty Pool

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Liisa Kruusmägi: Hairy Face

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Liisa Kruusmägi: Bored

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About the Author

Lucy Bourton

Lucy (she/her) is the senior editor at Insights, a research-driven department with It's Nice That. Get in contact with her for potential Insights collaborations or to discuss Insights' fortnightly column, POV. Lucy has been a part of the team at It's Nice That since 2016, first joining as a staff writer after graduating from Chelsea College of Art with a degree in Graphic Design Communication.

lb@itsnicethat.com

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