Nice to meet you! I’m Lisa.

I’m truly grateful for the chance to express myself through acrylic paint. Spilling my experiences onto a canvas allows me to release what I hear and see during my days in jails and courtrooms that I am not allowed to talk about. As a social worker working on federal criminal cases, I witness and hear stories from my incarcerated clients describing harsh realities such as police brutality, systemic racism, and mistreatment behind bars.

Work with Me

My Background

Who am I?

For the last 34 years, I have worked in the federal criminal (in)justice system, for the defense. I am a social worker working on cases including death penalty, murder and drug trafficking. It is my role to tell the client’s life story advocating for a lower sentence than the prosecutor (the government) proposes.

The Metropolitan Detention Center, a widely recognized federal jail where my clients are held, has a well-earned reputation for hazardous conditions that contribute to routine violence, worsening mental health issues, and insufficient healthcare.

During COVID I started splattering paint on large canvases and using putty knives. As a social worker who listens to intense stories, I needed a visceral outlet, and I found it.

How Did I Get Here?

Following my brain surgery in 2009, I learned about neuroplasticity, the remarkable ability for a brain to reorganize its structure. After my brain tumor was removed, neural pathways were rerouted and my synapses were firing away over a different path creating a new me; a self-taught painter.

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What Collectors are Saying

“Lisa’s paintings are visual poetry. I admire her use of color and texture.”-Sara C.

“Lisa asked me the technical questions to define the work in terms of dimensions and colors, but she also probed something more important; that is, how did I want this work of art to make me FEEL when I looked at it. Through our many conversations she helped me find a subject that would elicit those feelings.” -Lora G.

“Lisa Orloff is an amazing creator of art that’s very real and thought provoking. I was very lucky to have secured an unusual piece hanging on her own wall. It’s now hanging in my dining room and continues to evoke some interesting conversations.” -Ellen D.

“This abstract piece means more to me than I can put into words. Every time I look at it, I notice something new — a feeling, a memory, a quiet moment. Art like this doesn’t just fill a space, it stays with you.” -KO

Get in Touch!

Schedule a free 1:1 introductory session with me to discuss a custom piece!

Book Consultation

FAQ

  • I work predominantly in abstract, non-representational painting, guided by intuition, color, and movement. Some of my work is informed by firsthand experiences and close observation of human vulnerability, resilience, and tension. I do not offer portrait or representational commissions.

  • Prices reflect the cost of materials, labor, and creative expertise.

  • Timelines vary depending on size and complexity, but most custom paintings take 3-6 weeks to complete.

  • Framing is not included.