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Lisa Yuskavage - Outlier?

15.09.2011

I knew it was her when she walked into the Royal Hibernian Academy resembling a rock and roll queen rather than the illustrious artist Yuskavage is, I waited like a fan at the stage door to see if she’d sign my arm like a tattoo, something I wouldn’t wash off. She’s got that Manhattan look, there’s a way New York (although originally Philadelphia based) creatives have their clothes down and Lisa Yuskavage is saying it’s cold today but ready, looking well traveled she’s come all this way to be a part of the biggest show in town.

Great words have been written about her work, she courts controversy with her ambiguous voluptuous sirens, they’re round and warm, brightly coloured almost Japanese, graphic and modern shine luminous on these bare walls so I ask about this carefully, I would like to find new information. Surprisingly too, she talks about being young in the northern meadows of Ireland and it’s influence on her work, there’s a flurry of words- I can barely get a word in. I did hear once you should scare yourself once a day and remember you’re alive and kicking, yes meeting Lisa Yuskavage was a meeting and a half, short and powerful reading between the lines seeing the work like this you can learn something new by listening carefully watching and finding your answers in others more equipped and knowledgeable. Sage like but hard working and no-one can accuse Yuskavage of not working hard enough.

  Lisa Yuskavage by DublinContemporary

Aidan Kelly

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