The Queer Joy of Lisa Congdon’s Illustrations

American artist Lisa Congdon is spreading queer joy with her beautiful illustrations.


Cover photo: Lisa Congdon, photo by Kimberley Hasselbrink (2019). Via Extraordinary Routines.


This article is part of my 30 Living Queer Artists Worth Celebrating in 2019 series. June is Pride Month, commemorating the international gay rights movement that began June 28th, 1969, with the Stonewall riots of New York. 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the event. I’m celebrating all month long!


Vibrant Folk Illustration

Lisa Congdon is a American fine artist, illustrator, and author. She is known for her illustrations filled with inviting colors, organic shapes, and hand drawn lettering. Congdon’s patterns are populated by rainbows, animals, eyes, flowers, and everyday objects.

Congdon’s style is fun, bright, and radiant with positivity. Much of her work is particularly reminiscent of folk art, though Congdon draws inspiration from a variety of sources.

“We had modern art posters all over our house. And I also grew up surrounded by books. Even before I became an artist myself, I loved to sew and I collected old things. I love everything vintage. I’ve been scouring flea markets since I was 24. I also love symbolism. So you will see symbols all over my work that reoccur in the same form but in different colours and placements,” Congdon explains.

For a product line at the MoMA Design Store, Congdon was given access to research the Museum of Modern Art’s entire design collection. The MoMA is just one of Congdon’s long list of notable clients; she has also collaborated with Comme des Garçons and Airbnb. The Portland-based artist is in high demand.

Throughout the success, Congdon has stayed humble, noting, “You learn over time, even when you get these great client jobs, that a) sometimes they are hard work and b) they don’t necessarily make you a happier person or make your career any more or less significant.” Congdon finds joy in the process itself and sharing her work with others.

Lisa Congdon Notebook Set for the MoMA Design Store. Via MoMa.

Lisa Congdon Notebook Set for the MoMA Design Store. Via MoMa.

Freedom Tee by Lisa Congdon for Comme des Garçons. Via Totokaelo.

Freedom Tee by Lisa Congdon for Comme des Garçons. Via Totokaelo.

Illustration by Lisa Congdon for Airbnb. Via Lisa Congon’s Website.

Illustration by Lisa Congdon for Airbnb. Via Lisa Congon’s Website.



 
Via Creative Boom. © Lisa Congdon

Via Creative Boom. © Lisa Congdon

 

 
Via the Creative Chronicle. © Lisa Congdon
 

Future Artists

Lisa Congdon, now 51, is using her voice and experience to lift up future artists. She is featured on online classes like Creativebug and she has written multiple books including the popular The Essential Guide for Building Your Career as an Artist. Congdon tells aspiring creatives, “Keep sharing what you do. Be excited about it. Your excitement and passion will be contagious.”