Isabel Ardito Lebo, a burgeoning artist originating from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, possesses an unwavering passion for creation.
Having obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, Canada, Isabel channels the anxieties of existence into her artistic endeavors, delving into both the comical and unsettling aspects of human experiences with an inquisitive and interconnected approach.
She finds joy in exploring an array of mediums, such as rug hooking, tufting, oil painting, drawing, and sculpture, constantly seeking new avenues of expression.
Questions? Comments? Just wanna say hi?
The world is depressing; dare I say soul-sucking, especially how it is right now. I am searching for the good parts of living. Creating ignites a craving in me that makes me feel alive. With flat and fluffy media, I give life to objects, creating imagery that pulls viewers in.
Through tufting, sculpture, rug hooking, drawing, and painting, I build strange new worlds to inhabit. I tuft rugs of stars in bathing suits, paint apples with gleaming teeth, and draw scenes of fun-loving characters in order to flourish amongst the dread.
I experiment with ‘cool,’ goofy, and grounded subjects, in hope to distract and delight while inspiring amusement. I seek poignant connections with others through capturing brief moments of absurd experiences, situations, and narratives.
Education
2019-2015 Portsmouth High School, Portsmouth, New Hampshire
2023-2019 Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick Canada - Major in Fine arts, Minor in Visual and Media Culture
2023-2023 Google Coursera, completed Foundations of Digital Marketing and E-commerce course
Community and Campus Fundraisers
2023-2019 Biannual Fine Arts Show and Sale, Purdy Crawford Centre for the Arts, Mount Allison University, Sackville NB, Canada
2022 Online auction, Sweetest Little Thing, Struts Art Gallery, Sackville NB, Canada
Art Teaching
2019 Private Youth Drawing, Sackville NB, Canada
Workshop’s
2023 Rug Hooking Workshop, Crackskull’s Coffee & Books, Newmarket NH
2023 Rug Hooking Workshop, Portsmouth Public Library, Portsmouth NH
2023 Rug Hooking Workshop, Port City Makerspace, Portsmouth NH
2023 Rug Hooking Workshop, Seacoast Artspot, Portsmouth NH
2023 Rug Hooking Workshop, Crackskull’s Coffee & Books, Newmarket NH
2023 Rug Hooking Workshop, Seacoast Artspot, Portsmouth NH
2023 Rug Hooking Workshop, TinkerHaus Makerspace, Newbury MA
2023 Multi Session Rug Hooking Workshop, Kittery Adult Education, Kittery ME
2023 Rug Hooking Workshop, Seacoast Artspot, Portsmouth NH
2023 Rug Hooking Workshop, ME Sew Crafty, Portland ME
2023 Rug Hooking Workshop, Factory 3, Portland ME
2023 Rug Hooking Workshop collaboration with CreativeGuts, Art Up Front Street, Exeter NH
2024 Rug Hooking Workshop, Factory 3, Portland ME
2024 Rug Hooking Workshop, The Word Barn, Exeter NH
2024 Rug Hooking Workshop, Seacoast Artspot, Portsmouth NH
2024 Rug Hooking Workshop, Seacoast Artspot, Portsmouth NH
2024 Rug Hooking Workshop, Exeter Fine Crafts, Exeter NH
2024 Rug Hooking Workshop, The Word Barn, Exeter NH
2024 Rug Hooking Workshop, ME Sew Crafty, Portland ME
2024 Rug Hooking Workshop, Seacoast Artspot, Portsmouth NH
2024 Rug Hooking Workshop, Calliope Paperie, Natick MA
2024 Rug Hooking Workshop, The Word Barn, Exeter NH
2024 Rug Hooking Workshop, Seacoast Artspot, Portsmouth NH
Exhibitions
2021 Group Exhibition, Bakers Dozen, Struts Art Gallery, Sackville NB, Canada
2022 Group Exhibition, Sweetest Little Thing, Struts Art Gallery, Sackville NB, Canada
2022 Solo Exhibition, On the Inside, Crackskull’s Coffee & Books, Newmarket NH
2023 Group Exhibition, Despite it All, Owens Art Gallery, Sackville NB, Canada
Professional Experience
2021 Art Sales, Nahcotta, Portsmouth NH
2022-2015 Food Service, Various locations, Portsmouth NH
Commissions
Private art and design commissions in painting, drawing, rug hooking, and tufting
Exhibitions Juried
2022 Selected Solo Exhibitions, Start Art Gallery, Sackville NB, Canada
Art Markets
2023 Anti-Robot Club's MarketPlace, Farm Fresh, Providence Rhode Island
2023 Wrong Brain Holiday Bizaare, North Country Hard Cider, Dover NH
2024 Luna Moth Zine Fest, Derry-Salem Elks, Salem, NH
2024 Artisans Asylum Makers Market, Artisans Asylum, Boston, MA
Podcasts
2023 Creative Guts, "Izze Ardito Lebo," Art Up Front Street, Exeter NH
https://open.spotify.com/episode/53oaxbcoiHVfkyTx1F5LY0?si=984a8eca7c414965