LanaGomez
It’s been a while since Lana Gomez’s work hung on gallery walls in Naples. The daughter of Naples philanthropist Simone Lutgert, Gomez had her first show in 2008 at Judith Liegious Designs.
Since then she’s gone Hollywood, moving to Los Angeles, working with a major interior designer and growing in work. Now she’s back for a show called Turn! Turn! Turn! at Edward Gary Design, which starts today and runs through July. We caught up with Gomez via email to chat about her life since 2008, her work and where she’s going.
GSL: It's been six years since you've shown work in Naples, catch us up on what's happened to Lana Gomez the artist since then.
Lana Gomez: Since my last showing in Naples, I have had shows all around the country in L.A., New York, San Francisco, Miami and now back in Naples. I soaked up inspirations from famed designer Kelly Wearstler while I was the resident painter at her studio. I collaborated with Smart Car creating a custom Lana Gomez car, and Gibson Guitars to do a 10 ft. guitar sculpture on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood. I have been featured in publications such as InStyle, The New Yorker, Luxe Magazine, etc. and this year I received the "Tastemaker of 2014" award from California Home and Design Magazine.
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Gomez is the daughter of local philanthropist Simone Lutgert and spent part of her childhood in Naples. But has been living in Los Angeles for the past half decade.
GSL:How did working with an interior designer change or hone the way you look at the canvas?
Gomez: I have always had a love for interior design. Having worked on both sides of the design world, I can appreciate both approaches. This gives me an understanding of how people live with art. I keep this in mind when painting as nothing gives me greater satisfaction than finding a perfect home for one of my pieces. The process comes full circle for me when a piece travels from an idea in my head to eventually being seen in a home or public space as it ignites creativity and inspiration into people of all ages.
GSL: There's a lot of 1980s pop culture in your work, (titles, colors) is that a conscious decision or more something that just seems natural to you?
Gomez: Well, I am a child of the ’80s. So whether it's intentional or not, it is happening. I secretly do love the ’80s though. There is something so dorky and wonderful about that decade. I love to glamorize and pull off the ’80s vibe in a sophisticated way that the ’80s never knew.
GSL: What's next? Where will Lana Gomez be six years down the road?
Gomez: Next for me is to return to L.A., and start a new series that I couldn’t be more excited about. I will continue to "stuff the pipe" (as my mom would say) and see what will come out the other end.
The most fun part about this adventure is that I don't know where I will end up. If I thought that I knew where I was headed, it would change anyway. Painting has opened up an entirely new world of wonderful people, places, and things, and the journey continues.
See more of Gomez work at lanagomez.com.
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A piece titled Do Your Thing on the Runway by Lana Gomez.