Liz Conces Spencer
Houston, TX
Artist's Website
Artist's Statement:
“Our visual environment is easily abstracted: from any reference point, the artist can either simplify or fragment it. Space and form push, pull and breathe together, interconnected and malleable. With brilliant patterned color, I seek to reveal this interdependence of all that we see melding together and pulsing with life.
The figure studies reveal how we are all more same than different. Our shared form masks many differences, but ultimately birth, living and dying bind us to each other and to life’s process and mystery.
Every story is unique, yet universal. Every life is individual, yet our lives are by nature shared.”
Artist's Bio:
Liz Conces Spencer paints in a variety of media. Her work draws upon the visual stimuli of her life and environment; she frequently explores relationships and interpersonal themes. Conces studied painting at the University of St. Thomas in Houston; she now paints at Mother Dog Studios in the downtown area.
In 1998, Conces completed and installed a major public commission for the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. The principal piece “Herald” salutes the urgency and sometimes the triumph of the work completed behind the scenes by cancer researchers. In all, the commission consists of three paintings, parallels of artistic process and scientific exploration. The pieces are installed in the research division of the Center.
As a product designer in the infant industry, she designed an internationally marketed line of infant soft goods. Conces created, licensed and owns copyrights to over one hundred published infant designs.
Throughout her career, Conces has been active in art education. A Winant Clayton Volunteer in 1975, she developed and supervised a summer art program for 300 underprivileged children in London. Beginning in 1982, she taught at Houston’s St. Thomas High School and Incarnate Word Academy, developing educational programming for both schools. She has conducted continuing education classes and seminars for the Museum of Fine Arts-Houston, the University of St. Thomas, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church and the City of Richardson, Texas. In 1999, Conces and the Wesley House, a community outpost of the United Methodist Church, received project funding from the Cultural Arts Council/Houston for her afterschool art program for underprivileged youth. She currently teaches for the non-profit enrichment program City Artworks and for the Houston Center for Contemporary Crafts, which funds her instruction at Project Row Houses.
In 1996, Conces co-founded the White Oak Artists Collective. The group contributes funding to a variety of charitable and educational organizations, in addition to providing a vehicle for the participating artists to sell their work.
Conces’ fine artwork has been widely exhibited and collected since her first showings in 1979. She has traveled extensively to show her work in galleries, festivals, alternative spaces and juried competitions. Her work can be viewed by appointment at her studio or online at lizconces.com.
