Lori-Ann Bellissimo

Lori Bellissimo has shown outstanding range of talent in many creative forms. Born in Toronto of Italian parents, her love of art began at a young age as she began to take private art lessons at ten years old. Soon, she began to explore the potential of different art media on newly developed products and printing methods to this day.

She attended a private arts school in Toronto specializing in Visual Arts and Music before obtaining 3rd Year Advanced Standing at Canada’s York University on Scholarship. She then obtained a fine rt Full Foreign Scholarship to complete her university level studies in England. She graduated with honors with a Specialized Bachelor of Fine A rts Degree. Over time, Lori has taken on a variety of creative positions. She has worked as an art director, researcher, assistant curator, graphic designer, visual merchandiser, and CD/print designer. She also has full secondary teaching qualifications with a specialty in Talented Students. Lori’s paintings have been featured in various television commericials and her sculpural mobiles have been used in music videos through Partners Film Company in Toronto. Lori has also exhibited in the Toronto Outdoor Art Ehibition where she was awarded Honorable Mention in Painting in 2001. She also works in experimental Polaroid based works, often digitally enlarged. In 1995, Lori studied resin fiber mould making under Toronto sculpture Ted Bieler.

Working on paper and canvas, Lori explores artistic possibilities as she layers different collage elements and art media. The nd result is a creation that is both opaque and translucent, while vividly colorful and seemingly, kinetic. Lori’s extensive travelsacross North America, the Canadian Artic, and greater Europe cannot be ignored in her creative process: “My body of work stands in accordance with that of a narrative landscape with autobiographical details; drawing on travels and life experience as well as well-kept journals and photographic observations. Most recently I have had experiences with physical pain and disability. These conditions prevented regular physical mobility, however my mental perspective has definitley been on the move; leading me to meditation and deep self-discovery. Like layers of tissue and muscle I now approach the layers of resin I paint on in a new way. In this way I am now developing my own version of abstract self-portraits."

Visually, the work is layered with acrylic and mixed media. Found metal, pigment powders, antique documents, 1950’s Science textbooks diagrams, original photo cuttings and mylars are some some collage items used regularly. Using these somewhat itendifiable items makes the work both approachable as well as cause for investigation.

Each piece reads as a portal through a microscope or magnifying glass of sublime beauty found in nature. The bold impact of the close-up, in a graphic style enhances a broad range of subject matter. Finally, each surface is preserved and sealed with layers of glass-like resins.