New Artists and Artwork at the Gallery - Lanning Gallery [Sedona Arizona]

Phil Lichtenhan

An accomplished artist of wide-ranging talents, Phil Lichtenhan constructs found metal bird nests using as much variety in his found objects as birds do in their own search and select process – of course Lichtenhan selects items such as ancient fencing, barbed wire and metal mesh to create his elegant, earthy pieces that can be hung on a wall or displayed on a table. "I find my nest materials everywhere," the artist notes: "Along the roadsides, railroads, and alleyways, in the city or out in the desert are the discards of our world." Each metal's natural aged patina stands in striking contrast to the delicate high-fired ceramic eggs firmly affixed in every nest.

Lichtenhan's early talents led him to attend Northern Arizona University where he immersed himself in art study on his way to an extended degree in art education. He studied printmaking at the University of Arizona, exploring intaglio viscosity relief collagraphs, a highly technical process that Lichtenhan pushed to newly expressive levels; an MFA in printmaking from U of A followed. Lichtenhan spent decades sharing his skills through teaching, first at a high school, then a boarding school, before years at another high school. He loved the teaching process and his experiences allowed him to dabble in acting and stage design; he directed the Avery Art Gallery while at the private Verde Valley School, bringing in shows from across the nation, and he led field trips to the Hopi, Navajo, and Zuni people, developing valuable relationships along the way.

All the while Lichtenhan continued to make art and perfect his artistry. Since roughly 1990 he has been painting landscapes en plein air or from sketches and photographs taken on frequent hikes; he has studied the figure, producing not only literal interpretations but also expressive abstractions. In addition to his bird nests, Lichtenhan produces dimensional drawings from found materials. His nests, from small to large or tall, from uniform to motley in shape, capture in their skillful construction and compelling compositions every aspect of this gifted artist's rich artistic past.

Lichtenhan's art can be found throughout the United States in both public and private collections including the University of Arizona Museum of Art, Arizona State University Museum of Art, Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson Botanical Gardens, Shemer Art Center, Bradley University Museum of Art, Norwest Bank, Arizona Commerce Bank, and the Ansel Adams estate.

Please contact the gallery to see more from this artist.

"Nest 710"
Found Metal Wire with Ceramic Eggs
7"h x 22"w x 18"d

Lisa Albinger

Surrealism doesn't quite describe Lisa Albinger's fascinating paintings, each rich in symbolism both universal and personal to the artist herself. Her works come from the subconscious realm where animal lore and sacred geometry spring forth in subtle yet specific manner. In oil paints on canvas or wood panel Albinger creates worlds alive on many levels.

"My first memory is of kneeling at an end table in Grandma's living room [with] my mom showing me how to draw a person. Since age five I knew I would be an artist," Albinger remembers. She went on to receive a BFA in Drawing/Painting from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and immediately began showing and selling her work in galleries. As Albinger evolved as an artist her goal became to depict the connection between the body, soul, and universe.

"Feast of Fate and Fowl"
Oil on Canvas
24"h x 18"w | framed to 29"h x 23"w

"My work explores sacred geometry (labyrinths, chakras), alchemy, mysteries of higher consciousness, and animal lore/totem animals," Albinger says. "I'm inspired and influenced by Mexican surrealism, outsider and Folk art." Her palette is rich with colors that sing with meaning, such as red "the color of life force - blood, heart - and a royal color" and hues that portray her kinship with desert life. Textures such as velvets and fur are rendered impeccably.

For many years Albinger only painted using cotton swabs and paper towels. Pointed cotton swabs were, and still are, used for much of her detail. She has since incorporated use of paint brushes as well. Her goal has never been to be so technically proficient that execution overrode content; for Albinger story is everything and the hand of the artist must always be part of that equation.

"I do try to paint every day if time allows for it. Inspiration definitely needs to be in place before I can produce and I find that I paint best between1-10pm. I need to be alone, except for my dog who's always nearby," Albinger says. She works to music and even films that inspire her – that inspiration often finding its way onto her canvases. "A lot of research happens during the painting process. I may paint for three hours then go read and look up symbols for an hour," she adds.

It would be hard to match the rich inner life Albinger shares in her paintings; import and humor are equally weighted in this artist's singular skills.

Please contact the gallery to see more from this artist.

For further information about our Art Gallery and Artists, please call (928) 282-6865.

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