Lori Fopiano
Art gives me the power to bridge the gap between my conscious thoughts and intuition, allowing me to take a scene or subject experienced by many and translate it into a language only I can speak.
Instagram: @lori_fopiano_art
Marshfield, MA
Mixed Media
The beauty of the world around me - nature, light, color - serves as a constant source of inspiration, but it’s the exploration of shape, texture, and color that drives my creative process. I lean into the freedom of abstraction to capture and put a unique spin on the energy of a scene, thought, or experience. Through layered surfaces and bold yet balanced color relationships, I aim to create paintings that hold both movement and stillness.
I strive to create pieces that act as a visual anchor in a room, inviting a moment of quiet reflection, wonder, or energy to everyday life. For me, a painting is successful when it moves beyond an image and simply feels right to the person viewing it.
I make abstract landscapes and non-representational pieces, using the power of art to put a unique spin on universal scenes, thoughts, or feelings.
What’s the story behind your work?
I’m living proof that it’s never too late to follow your heart! I spent years in a different professional field before retiring and returning to my first love, art, which I’d kept as a cherished hobby for decades. My art journey began in the structured world of realism, but I found myself wanting to capture feelings that a literal image couldn’t express. My current work is characterized by bold, often unexpected, color harmonies and a restless curiosity. I build each piece in layers, weaving together texture, color, and shape to invite the viewer to look a little bit closer.
What do you hope people will feel when they see it?
For me, the story of my work is in both the process and the result; I strive to create pieces where the final beauty is a reflection of the intuition and energy poured into the making. My hope is that viewers resonate with the work, that it invites them to pause, look beyond the surface, and perhaps see the familiar world through a new and unexpected lens.
How does your work create community or bring people together?
Connection is an important part of my process. Living in a coastal town like Marshfield provides the raw visual inspiration and my artist colleagues provide the spark. I participate in weekly painting sessions that offer a unique blend of camaraderie and honest critique…a balance that pushes me out of any bad habits or usual ways of approaching my work. I am thrilled to be part of the South Shore’s artistic community, a scene that is as soulful as it is supportive; art is a powerful way to bring people together.
Who helped you along the way?
My path as an artist has been shaped by a long line of mentors and supporters. It began with my parents, who recognized my passion early on and encouraged me through art classes as a child. Later, as a young mother, I found a vital creative outlet in the home studio of an older artist; her lessons provided a necessary space to nurture my identity beyond motherhood. Recently, that education has continued through classes at the region’s art centers. Lastly, my weekly artist group serves as a support system, providing creative energy and accountability that keeps my work growing.
How do you give back/support others?
We on the South Shore are fortunate to have such a vibrant arts scene, so I make it a priority to participate in and donate artwork to local exhibitions, fundraisers, and charities. I also believe in the importance of supporting the local businesses that, in turn, support the arts. Beyond the gallery walls, I find immense joy in sharing my creativity with my granddaughters. By making art alongside them, I hope to encourage the next generation to trust their own intuition and discover the same sense of freedom and power that art has given me.
What are you exploring?
My current work is an exploration of the space where reality intersects with imagination, using the beautiful chaos that only abstraction allows. I experiment with how a few bold color relationships and layered surfaces can capture the essence of a subject more accurately than a literal image ever could.
Why does it matter? In a world that often feels cluttered and fast-paced, I believe we need visual anchors…pieces that invite us to slow down. I strive to create paintings that hold both movement and stillness, offering a moment of quiet reflection or a spark of wonder. I want my work to generate a genuine, sometimes unexpected, connection with the person standing in front of it.
