Lori Goldberg

I am interested in the resilience and interconnectedness found throughout nature, from the vast underground networks of mycelium and roots to the hidden webs of life in urban green spaces and waterways. These systems mirror the connections we frequently overlook in our constructed environments. I am fascinated by the unseen intelligence that exists all around us, revealing how living beings collaborate, exchange resources, and adapt within networks built on reciprocity and survival.

Yet, amid this natural harmony, I observe the disruption caused by the detritus of daily life—plastic in our waterways, pollutants in the air, and discarded objects scattered across both rural and urban landscapes. These remnants of excess erode the integrity of our shared environments.

  • My paintings explore this tension by layering organic forms with traces of urban and industrial waste, highlighting the collision between nature’s regenerative power and the persistence of human-made materials. By incorporating found and discarded objects into my work, I transform them into visual metaphors for both decay and resilience.

    Nature teaches us about interdependence and the strength found in connection. Through color, texture, and layered imagery, I aim to evoke both the vitality and vulnerability of our planet’s diverse ecosystems.

    My work is not only a reflection on environmental fragility but also a call to recognize the wisdom embedded in nature—an invitation to see ourselves as part of, rather than separate from, this intricate and sustaining network.

By caring for our environment—air, land, and water—we inherently care for each other, deepening our connections with ourselves and one another. Each brushstroke I make reflects this connection, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and understanding in our shared journey.

In my ongoing series, ‘Poetics of the Discarded,’ I explore the intersection of nature and the overlooked detritus of daily life—found in our air, land, and waters. This dynamic interplay of harmony and discord generates a powerful alchemical energy, sparking the possibility of reconciliation between humanity, the planet, and ourselves.

BIOGRAPHY: Lori was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, where...

Lori was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, where she lives and works. She attended Langara College's Fine Arts program, Ontario College of Art and Design, and Emily Carr University of Art and Design. She has received many awards, including a Canada Council Grant, two Tony Onley Artist's Project Scholarships, the Vermont Artist Award, and recently fully-funded Tao Hua Tan Residency, Anhui Province, China.

Goldberg's work is in the collections of the Canada Art Bank, Contemporary Art Gallery, the City of Vancouver, Michael Audain private art collection, VGH Foundation and Tao Hua Tan Art collection in China. Major exhibitions include Hanmo Art Center, Beijing; South Main Gallery, Vancouver; Justine Barnike Gallery, Ontario; Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver; and the KX Kunst Kampfnagel Gallery, Hamburg.

As an artist, Goldberg has always sought intersections with broader communities, developing collaborative and mutually instructive inquiries about how art can impact positive environmental changes. She has spearheaded socially engaged projects in Akumal, Mexico, Governors Island, NYC, Vancouver and Squamish, BC. She served three years as the Provincial Representative of C.A.R./F.A.C., a Canada-wide advocacy and education NPO.

Over the last two decades, Goldberg has taught at Emily Carr University of Art and Design and frequently presented at Hollyhock on Cortes Island. Her work is represented by Matiz Art Gallery, Barcelona, Spain and Hanmo Art Center, Beijing, China.