Lisa DeAbreu

Lisa DeAbreu is an interdisciplinary artist and Lecturer at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), specializing in Painting and Drawing. They hold a BFA from the University at Buffalo, a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate, and an MFA from SAIC. Their work explores themes of generational trauma, layered identities, and cultural heritage through material experimentation and symbolic representation.

Education:

• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), University at Buffalo
• Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Painting and Drawing, SAIC
• Master of Fine Arts (MFA), SAIC

Research Interests: DeAbreu’s practice interrogates how memory and connection are constructed through material and cultural narratives. Their work often employs found objects (e.g., textiles, thrifted materials) to evoke themes of transformation, belonging, and diasporic identity.

Exhibitions:**

• Woman Made Gallery, Chicago
• School of the Art Institute of Chicago Galleries
• Layr Gallery, Vienna, Austria
• University of Chicago Logan Center

Teaching:** Teaches Painting Practice, an introductory course addressing material techniques, concept, and studio practice.

Artistic Practice:** Recent works include installations like Forgotten & Forseen (2024) and paintings such as Imprint (2024), which use textiles and mixed media to explore themes of home, loss, and cultural legacy.