LISA CONGDON
THE WAY THROUGH
PRIVATE PRICE LIST
OPENING RECEPTION
THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2025
5-8 PM
ON VIEW
JULY 13 - AUGUST 16, 2025
FOR INQUIRES
Please contact hello@chefasprojects.com
PRESS
Chefas Projects is excited to welcome back Lisa Congdon for The Way Through, a solo exhibition of 40 new paintings and a series of limited edition serigraphs. The exhibition will open with an artist reception on Thursday, July 17, from 5-8 pm at Chefas Projects in Portland, Oregon, and will be on view through August 16, 2025.
The Way Through represents Congdon’s deeply personal journey of healing after undergoing two knee replacement surgeries in the final months of 2024 due to severe osteoarthritis. During the long and painful recovery process, Congdon turned to a daily sketchbook practice of paper collaging not only as a creative outlet, but also as a means of processing her experience. A brightly colored folio of collages began to take shape.
Over the course of her recovery, Congdon created more than 80 collages, which became a ritualistic way to navigate her healing process. “My collages became the way through all of that”, says Congdon. “Ultimately, i recognized that the collection of collages was a sort of magic, and decided to see what new work could be created based on their wonky, improvisational, pure form.” This revelation led to a translation from collage to painting with over half of the collages reinterpreted as larger works. With each painting, Congdon carefully preserved the irregular cuts, slivers of negative space, and tactile traces of her hand, reflecting the vulnerability and resilience of her recovery. This exhibition honors the power of art as a form of medicine—both for the creator and the viewer.
In addition to Congdon’s new paintings, a series of limited-edition serigraphs will be on display in Gallery 2. The series was originally created for Congdon’s 2024 exhibition at Saint Mary’s College of California entitled Hold It Lightly.Exploring themes of joy, liberation, and radical inclusion, these vibrant prints combine Congdon’s signature bold illustrations and hand-lettering. First presented in dialogue with Corita Kent’s historic heroes and sheroes series, the serigraphs reflect the profound personal impact of Kent’s legacy.
Located in Portland, Oregon, at 134 SE Taylor Street on the first floor of the Taylor Works building, Chefas Projects invites the public to explore this unique exhibition, which will be on view through August 16, 2025.
Lisa Congdon (b.1968) is best known for her colorful, graphic style and her exploration of themes of joy, liberation and inclusion. She makes art for clients around the globe, including The Library of Congress, Target, The U.S. Postal Service, Wired Magazine, Amazon, Google, Smith Optics, Warby Parker, Method, Comme des Garcons, Peets Coffee, REI and MoMa, among many others.
Congdon exhibits internationally, including solo shows at Saint Mary's College Museum of Art (California), Chefas Projects (Oregon) and Paradigm Gallery (Philadelphia), along with group shows at Hashimoto Contemporary in Los Angeles, Museum of Design Atlanta and The Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco.
Congdon is self-taught and didn’t achieve momentum in her career until she was nearly 40 years old. Despite her untraditional path, Congdon has achieved recognition, not just as an artist, but as a leader in the industry for her work in social justice, mentoring and teaching. In March of 2021, she was named “One of the 50 Most Inspiring People and Companies According to Industry Creatives” published by AdWeek.
ARTWORK
LIMITED EDITION SERIGRAPHS
INSTALLATION IMAGES
© CHEFAS PROJECTS
Photo credit: Mario Gallucci