Lisa Kotz Mishler, the daughter of Holocaust survivors and heroes Sol and Luba Kotz, grew up hearing stories of her parents life in Poland during WW II. As a professional painter working primarily in oils, acrylics and watercolor, those stories began to influence her work. Her first book, L’Chayim-To Life, as a collection of paintings, and narration inspired by her parents harrowing and miraculous journey in Poland before emigrating  to the United Stated.

Lisa’s work has been shown in the Louvre in Paris, as well as in galleries in the United States.

Lisa Mishler is also prize-winning painter who lives in Tucson, Arizona. She studied photography and media arts in college and spent 20 years as an interior designer.  While working full time she also found time for taking art classes and painting.  After she retired she continued to develop her painting skills and became certified to teach at The Drawing Studio (TDS). Today she teaches “Abstract Painting” classes at TDS and for a variety of arts organizations in Arizona.

Lisa’s early years as an artist were influenced by the work of Paul Cezanne, Joan Miro and Marc Chagall. Her work has evolved over time. As an emerging artist she was known for her dreamlike watercolors and imaginative landscapes. More recently she studied intensively with noted Tucson painter, Josh Goldberg and has developed her own recognizable abstract style on the canvas. Today she works mostly in acrylics creating abstract, landscape and portrait pieces.  She has become more experimental in this work adding texture using state-of-the-art mediums and incorporating collage on the canvas. Recent mixed media work, while mostly acrylic based, includes watercolor, encaustic and even oil paint as part of her newly evolved experimental approach.

“I want to be known as a versatile artist as I delight in experimentation and discovery.” said Lisa in a recent conversation. “I am inspired by everyday encounters – my family, my dogs, daily early morning walks through the desert. I bring these experiences to the studio and then I paint”. I’m always amazed by what appears on the canvas.”

Lisa is a signature member of the Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild (SAWG), a Signature member of Aqueous and an active member in the Southern Arizona Artist Guild (SAAG), Contemporary Artists of Southern Arizona (CASA), PaperWorks: the Sonoran Collective for Paper and Book Artists, Southern Arizona Wax Artists (SAZWAX) and the Tubac Center of the Arts.Lisa exhibits regulary with these organizations.

Solo & Group Exhibitions

Solo Exhibit 2015 JCC Tucson, Az
Presently 2015 being shown in Art Photography Collection in the Musee du Louvre my image Red WW ll
2015 Light Space Gallery Special Recognition in the Nature Show for my image “Dreams”
2015 Presentation for Boarder Patrol my show on The Holocaust.
2013
Aqueous, National Water Media Exhibition
Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery, All Women Art Competition, Special Recognition Award,
“Dancing the Tango”
Two-man Show, JCC

Awards, Juried Shows & Recognition

Present
I am an active juried signature member of the Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild, Tucson

2010
“Small Things Considered” Invitational Show – Davis Dominguez Gallery, Tucson, AZ

2009
Merit Award – Southern Arizona Artist Guild juried Show – Toscana Gallery, Tucson
Best Of Show – Tubac Winter Invitational Show – Manos Gallery, Tubac, AZ
Arizona Edges National Show – Tubac Center of the Arts – Juried by Robert Burridges
Arizona Aqueous XXIII – juried by Christopher Schink, Tubac Center of the Arts, Tubac, AZ
Juried into Manos Art Gallery – Tubac, AZ

2008
Best Of Show – Fall Members Open Exhibit Show, Tubac, AZ – juried by Deanna Thibault

2007
Arizona Aqueous XXII, juried by Elizabeth Yarosz-Ash, February 16-April 1, Tubac, Arizona

2006
Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild Annual show, juried by Don Andrews

2005
Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild Annual show, juried by George James

2004
Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild Annual Show, juried by Ellen Fountain, N.W.S.

2003
Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild Annual Show, juried by Barbara Nechis, A.W.S.

2001
Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild Annual Show, juried by Timothy Clark, A.W.S.
Addy’s Award, For outstanding photographs for advertisement. Awarded by Tucson Advertising agencies.
First Place, Video Document Drama Production. Awarded by Pima College.
Published Photos, Sunset Magazine, Tucson Lifestyle, Design West and Garden Design magazines
Archive Collection, My work is displayed and kept in the archive collection of the Tucson Historical Society.

Education and Work Experience

Present
Full-time Artist; teaching at The Drawing Studio in Tucson, Arizona

2005-2007
Abstract Expression classes with Josh Goldberg

2004
One-month art history study tour in Italy

2000 – 2007
Interior Designer for Calico Corners, Tucson

2000
Watercolor workshop with Ellen Fountain

2000
Portrait workshop with Paul Mohr

1999
Workshop with Kit Fraser

1999-Present
The Drawing Studio, Tucson – open studio, studying with Andrew Rush, Hoge Day & Josh Goldberg

June 1990
Biomedical Communications, Video Production/Direction Internship, University Medical Center, Tucson

1987-1991
Television Production, Communication, Social Welfare

1965-1968
Liberal Arts and Fine Arts – The University of Arizona, Tucson

1983-1988
Photographer/Owner – In Focus Productions, Tucson
Architectural photography, lab processing, media sales, professional advertising photography, portfolio presentations

1978-1981
Interior Designer/Owner – Lisa’s Interiors, Tucson
Coordinating and scheduling with developer for colorization of new homes