Though she creates from her home studio in Marshfield, Lori feels deeply connected to the South Shore arts community. As a gallery artist with the South Shore Art Center, she is also actively involved with the North River Arts Society, Duxbury Art Association, and Plymouth Center for the Arts. 

“The South Shore has such a vibrant, soulful arts scene,” she says. “I love being part of it.”

Lori’s artistic journey is proof that it’s never too late to follow your heart. After spending years in a different professional field, she retired and returned to her first love—art—which she had nurtured as a hobby for decades. Her early work focused on realism, with careful attention to detail and technical precision. But in recent years, she has embraced what she calls the “beautiful chaos” of contemporary abstraction.

“It’s been incredibly freeing to shift from painting what I see to painting what I feel,” Lori explains. “Art allows me to capture emotions that are often just too big for words.”

Today, acrylic paint and collage are her primary mediums. She is drawn to the fast-paced energy of acrylics, whose quick drying time allows her to work intuitively and build layers in real time. Collage adds texture and history—creating surfaces that feel as layered as the experiences she’s expressing. Her canvases often evolve into abstract landscapes or fully non-representational works, where color, shape, and texture take center stage.

“I’m a bit of a color adventurer,” she says with a smile. “I love bold, unexpected harmonies that make a canvas vibrate.”

Some of her strongest influences come from both close to home and far beyond it. Weekly painting sessions with fellow artists provide camaraderie and creative exchange. At the same time, the masters of the twentieth century continue to inspire her. A recent visit to The Metropolitan Museum of Art was a dream come true. Standing before works by Chaim Soutine, Wassily Kandinsky, and Helen Frankenthaler left a lasting impression on the bold harmonies and textures she now brings to her own canvases.

One of Lori’s most meaningful artistic memories, however, dates back to childhood. As a young girl, she once painted a Halloween scene that didn’t go as planned. Frustrated, she smeared thick swirls of paint across the page. When her mother discovered it, she didn’t see a mistake—she saw art. She framed the piece and kept it in her bedroom for years.

“That moment taught me you can always find beauty in the mistakes,” Lori says. “It’s part of why I love abstract art today.”

Beyond the Pratt Library exhibition, neighbors can also find Lori’s work displayed at Cabot House Furniture in Weymouth and Face + Body Studio in Marshfield. She believes art is meant to be shared and hopes her pieces act as a visual invitation to pause, reflect, and feel—whether that brings calm, wonder, or a burst of energy. She also makes a point of creating work in a variety of sizes and price points so art feels accessible to more homes.

For those interested in purchasing a piece from The Shape of Paint, works on display at the Pratt Library are available through the South Shore Art Center. To view additional available pieces or inquire directly, visit lorifopianoart.com.

Contact Lori:
Email: lorifopianoart@gmail.com
Website: lorifopianoart.com
Instagram: @lori_fopiano_art
Facebook: Lori Fopiano Art