How this Painter Turned Childhood Curiosity into an art Career
For the Arts to Hearts Project website, we’re delighted to share a conversation with Philadelphia-based painter Lori Evensen that opens a window into her background and the ideas driving her practice. This interview dives into Lori’s roots in central Pennsylvania, her formative years at Tyler School of Art, and the semester abroad that sharpened her eye—sunlight filtering through Villa Borghese blooms in Rome and the intricate geometries she encountered in Tunisia still echo through her canvases. Lori talks about building imagined spaces that feel like “parallel universes,” the decision to rotate her canvases so each piece can be hung in multiple ways. Why does she choose patience in the studio—letting curiosity lead while time slips away into a calm, almost Zen focus?
She shares how colour and pattern guide her, why detail matters, and what she hopes viewers find: a break from the daily grind and a fresh look at the world’s layered beauty. We learn how different settings, from galleries to nightspots, shape audience reactions, and how being known since childhood as “Lori the artist” continues to inform her discipline and play. In short, this interview is about the mindset, methods, and environments that shape Lori’s work and what they can teach us about seeing more, looking longer, and staying open to surprise.
Lori Evensen is a featured artist in our book, “101 ArtBook – Abstract Edition” You can explore her journey and the stories of other artists by purchasing the book here:
https://shop.artstoheartsproject.com/products/the-creative-process-book
Born and raised in central Pennsylvania, Lori Evensen has been creating art since she was under the age of two. While studying at Tyler School of Art at Temple University, Lori spent a semester studying abroad in Rome and Tunisia, an experience which significantly refined her artistic vision. She graduated with a BFA in painting in 2011 and has gone on to sell and exhibit in numerous galleries, cafes, nightspots, science centres and other venues in Philadelphia, Rome, and State College. Mrs. Evensen currently lives and works in Philadelphia, PA.
1. You’ve been creating since before you can even remember. Looking back, what role did art play in your early years growing up in central Pennsylvania?
As a kid, I found that making art was more fun than anything else, and I would do it at every opportunity. Before long, everyone I knew thought of me not just as Lori, but as “Lori the artist,” which has stayed with me ever since.
The goal of my art is to take viewers on a surreal journey into colorful fantasies that awaken the inner child that once saw the world with awe before adulthood stripped it of its mystique.
Lori Evensen
2. Your time studying abroad in Rome and Tunisia shaped your vision as an artist. What moments or encounters during that period left the strongest mark on you?
In Rome, I remember being struck by how sunlight poured through the flowers in the Villa Borghese, illuminating them like stained glass and sparking a fascination with light and shadow. In Tunisia, on the other hand, I was amazed at the intricate patterns found in its architecture, textiles and jewellery – designs that felt like worlds within worlds. Both experiences continue to influence my work today.
3. You mention that your work invites viewers into “parallel universes.” Can you talk about what draws you to building these imagined spaces, and what you hope people experience when they enter them?
The goal of my art is to take viewers on a surreal journey into colourful fantasies that awaken the inner child that once saw the world with awe before adulthood stripped it of its mystique. Additionally, I hope that stepping into these parallel universes offers a meaningful respite from the burdens of everyday life.
4. Many of your pieces are designed to be hung in multiple orientations. What inspired this choice, and how do you think it changes the way people interact with your work?
In college, after noticing that my artwork felt a bit bottom-heavy, a professor suggested I rotate the canvas while working so there was no fixed top or bottom. I was dubious at first, but soon discovered how much versatility this added. A painting that can be viewed from multiple orientations becomes almost like several works in one, where the viewer can uncover new perspectives with each rotation.
Like the artwork itself, the process of creating is one of getting lost in joy. I forget about any burdens or sadness, let time and the world slip away, and revel in a tranquil mindset.
Lori Evensen
5. You describe your practice as an optimistic choice to see the world’s beauty despite its flaws. How does this perspective guide you when you’re in the studio?
Like the artwork itself, the process of creating is one of getting lost in joy. I forget about any burdens or sadness, let time and the world slip away, and revel in a tranquil mindset. It’s unintentionally Zen!
6. Having shown your work in such a range of places, from galleries to bars, what have you noticed about the way different audiences connect with your paintings?
Different venues create different kinds of engagement because they draw various types of people. In galleries, viewers are usually art lovers who approach the work in a quiet, reflective way – often polite and complimentary, but sometimes reserved in their genuine opinions. In bars and nightclubs, however, viewers are usually there for the drinks and are more vocal about what they like and dislike. But regardless of the setting, audiences are consistently intrigued by how each piece is created and invariably interpret them in ways I had never thought of.
Lori Evensen’s work invites us to step into imagined spaces where colour, pattern, and detail open doors to discovery. Her journey shows us how observation, travel, and playful experimentation can build a practice that feels both disciplined and free.
From childhood sketches in central Pennsylvania to exhibitions in Rome and Philadelphia, Lori has carried with her a steady curiosity and a choice to see beauty in the world around her. What we learn from her story is that art can be a way of slowing down, noticing more, and finding joy in the process as much as in the finished piece.
To learn more about Lori, click the following links to visit her profile.
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