Q&A LISA

Lisa Eryn Silverman | Q&A

What did your path toward photography look like?

I've always been naturally creative and passionate about art, fashion, photography, and interior design. Growing up, my home was filled with fashion and interior design magazines. I was captivated by these gorgeous images and developed an appreciation for detail.

I studied business at Boston University,  but then craved more creative education. I went on to study interior design at Parsons School of Design and Photography at New York's International Center for Photography while working for the famed interior designer Laura Kirar. I then worked in the fashion industry, where I became a fashion photography producer for Michael Kors. At this point, I was surrounded by highly talented and motivated creatives whose work inspired me to continue developing my personal portfolio.

What are your biggest inspirations?

My work is also influenced by the fashion and design industries. Though my compositions are often lighthearted, they almost always carry a touch of the luxury and excess associated with popular culture tastes. Whether in my own work or at TheseFineWalls, I enjoy creating new magical spaces or worlds into which anyone can enter and explore.

What is your favorite project you've worked on so far?

I'm particularly proud of "Never Stop Dancing ," a limited edition of my photograph "Midnight Dancer" that I created to support the Jewish community after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Thanks to our compassionate clients, TheseFineWalls raised more than $60,000 via "Never Stop Dancing" sales alone; we donated these funds to the Jewish philanthropic organization UJA Federation of New York.

Who are a few artists you really admire?

I'm very drawn to the intimate detail found in Marilyn Minter's work, and to the contemporary work of Mel Bochner, whose bold paintings add a touch of playfulness to fine art. Annie Morris's sculptures are similarly whimsical and add a sense of joyful disbelief to any room. From a collector's perspective, it would be a dream to own a piece by any of these artists.

What is important to you about photography?

To start, it's an accessible art medium. Photography’s ability to be reproduced has drastically changed the way we assign value to an artist’s creation, and in my opinion, this change is for the better in the sense that it can be shared and seen by more people.

I also like that contemporary photography in particular is bold, makes a statement, and draws you in. You're capturing a moment that ultimately conveys what was important during that time: the moods, iconography, perspectives, and so on. Fashion photography, too, is an art form that is often hidden in plain view. We can thank the internet for helping to bring fashion photography to the foreground.

Which parts of your artistic future—or the future of TheseFineWalls—are you currently looking forward to?

TheseFineWalls celebrated its 10th anniversary this year. I'm incredibly proud of how successful the gallery has been in its effort to recontextualize photography as decorative fine art. I'm also thrilled that we've had the chance to work closely with so many talented photographers, who are often renowned in the editorial photography space but up-and-coming in the fine art space. To be a part of these photographers' career evolution is a blessing, and I'm beyond excited to keep working with these artists—and new ones!—as TheseFineWalls continues to grow.

Part of that growth will include working with artists as well as photographers. We're looking forward to expanding the gallery's offerings by partnering with artists whose work conveys the bold sense of luxury and indulgence our clients are so drawn to. Stay tuned!

Link to the blog post about NSD here!