Lisa Travers is a Bristol based collage and mixed media artist. Her original hand cut layered collages have been exhibited at the RWA, Spike Island and Bruton Art Factory. Design commissions include Bestival and Glastonbury festivals. With a background as a tour manager and then a scene painter / prop maker / set dresser / lighting tech for Invisible Circus, Lisa has a DIY attitude to her process. Drawing inspiration from anatomy, folklore, pop art and Victoriana, Lisa playfully expresses strong subjects including feminism and health, in reference to her neurodiversity and disabilities. Lisa works from her studio space in The People’s Republic of Stokes Croft, a community owned creative enterprise venue in the heart of Bristol.
I see patterns everywhere. In stone carvings on buildings to 1970’s wallpaper. I am drawn to detail and construction and how everyone perceives their own meaning from repetitive shapes. The ordered chaos is pleasing to me. I like opposites so dualities like texture vs smooth and noise vs quiet often come up in my work. My fascination with bodies started at a young age when I was in and out of hospital. Curious to know what was happening inside my body and brain I devoured anatomy and psychology books. To this day I am drawn to cycles, systems and the visceral beauty of life. 18th & 19th Century illustrations make up much of my source material, which I turn into kaleidoscopic puzzles, like mythical mysteries within all of us.
Using paper and cardboard has always come naturally - from making toy theatres as a kid to relying on recycled materials to afford making art as an adult. Collage is also clean and tidy. This appeals to the autistic side of my brain, which sends me on deep dives into subjects like forensics, true crime, women’s history and witchcraft. In contrast, my ADHD side enjoys throwing paint around. This feels like a healthy way to channel my frustrations at the world we live in. In my ongoing series of bold, colourful Rorschach Test inspired works, you are invited to step back and look at the big picture. Whereas the detailed collages bring people forward. Developing the collages into layered 3D structures invites people to step closer. It’s intimate. It captures the unloved, unseen details and shows people the wonder.
Artist Statement
CV
SELECTED FAIRS AND EXHIBITIONS
2024
The People's WInter Exhibition, PRSC, Bristol
Bath Society of Artists 119th Annual Open Exhibition, Victoria Gallery, Bath
Bath Open Art Prize, Fringe Arts Bath, 44ad Artspace, Bath
Uncanny For Gaza Group Show, Online for Phantasmal Gallery
Bath Art Fair, Bath Pavillion, Bath
Summer Group Show, Bocabar, Bristol
The People's Spring Exhibition, PRSC, Bristol
2023
Revolting Artists, St. Nics Gallery, Weymouth
Group Show, North Street Gallery, Bristol
Group Show, Tobacco Factory, Bristol
2022
Precious Postcards, Catharine Miller Gallery, London
The People's Winter, Spring & Summer Exhibitions, PRSC, Bristol
Precious Postcards, Unit 8 Studios, Bristol
2021
Bath Photo Festival, Online
The People's Summer Exhibition & Festive Edition, PRSC, Bristol
2020
The People's Winter & Spring Exhibitions, PRSC, Bristol
2019
Fantastic and Strange, Fringe Arts Bath, Bath
Solaris, The Malago, Bristol
Summer Exhibition, Clifton Arts Club, Bristol
In Mind, The Malago, Bristol
2018
Shangri La Takeover, Bruton Art Factory, Bruton
Proper Bristol, PRSC, Bristol
Equinox, The Island, Bristol
Solstice, The Malago, Bristol
2017
Bath Open Arts Prize, Fringe Arts Bath, 44AD, Bath
Equinox, The Malago, Bristol
24 Jam, The Island, Bristol
2016
RWA Open, RWA, Bristol
No Laughing No Barking, Spike Island, Bristol
Stranger Worlds, The Royal Arcade, Boscombe
Spike Open, Spike Island, Bristol
Synaesthesia, 123 Space, Bristol
Parallels, The Island, Bristol
2015
Bullshit, The Bull, Liverpool
Spike Open, Spike Island, Bristol
Hidden, The Station, Bristol
Work Out Work In, Online Exhibition
ON, Southbank, Bristol
2014
Level One 2, Spike Island, Bristol
Confessions, The Crofters Rights, Bristol
Lila, All Hallows Hall, Bristol
2013
Level One, Spike Island, Bristol
2011
Freak Street Collective, Freak Street Studios, Bristol
DESIGN AND INSTALLATION
2024 - Wake The Tiger, Bristol
2017 - 2021 The Loco Club, Bristol
2017 The Island, Bristol
2017 Shangri-la, Glastonbury Festival
2017 Club Dada, Bestival Festival
2009 – 2021, Invisible Circus
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2024 Longlisted for VAA The Visual Artist of the Year Award
2023 Longlisted for VAA The Visual Art Open
2023 Shortlisted for Bath Society of Artists 118th Annual Exhibition
EDUCATION
2013-2016, BA (Hons) Fine Art, University of West of England, Bristol
2011-2013, Access to HE Art and Design, Diploma, City of Bristol College, Bristol
SHORT COURSES
2019 Screenprinting, Jacknife, Bristol
2017 Pottery, St Pauls Community Centre, Bristol
Lisa is a member of the Visual Artists Association and A-N The Artists Information Company
