Lee Ann Scotto Adams - 23 Who Made a Difference in RI in 2023

Lee Ann Scotto Adams - 23 Who Made a Difference in RI in 2023

One of the delights of 2023 was Michael Rose, GoLocal’s art contributor, whose features brought greater attention to the talents and expressiveness of Rhode Island’s immense creative talent; he highlighted the marvelous works of Lee Ann Scotto Adams.

"Rhode Island scenery is a frequent subject for local artists, but Cranston-based painter Adams looks for inspiration in novel places. In sensuous and brushy artworks, Adams celebrates vernacular architecture, backyards, alleys, and the lesser-seen bits of her neighborhood and the broader world. A talented artist and arts administrator, she is a vital presence on the cultural scene," Rose wrote about Adams.

“I’m always drawn to architecture and how it intersects with the environment. The geometry of a structure against the landscape really appeals to me. The drama of an unsettled sky undulating behind a rooftop; the intensely bright patch of light slipping through the alley between a house and garage; the splintered reflections of light in a curtained window; these things are so seductive,” she said.

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“If you dig just a little at the surface of these physical/visual things, it’s easy to make a connection between a dwelling and the psychological state of its occupant. For this reason, I love capturing quotidian human remnants in the landscape; like a satellite dish or a tipped chair. These mundane objects belie the complex human experience of the dwellers. I like the juxtaposition,” she added.

In her studio at her home, Adams makes paintings that describe place and environment. Often, her gaze is directed at unsuspecting views of local neighborhoods. A suburban home or an urban street might come into focus. Both are treated with equal care and result in images that range from poignant to melancholic to evocatively mysterious.

Learn more about her work HERE.