About Lissa

San Francisco Bay Area artist Lissa Starnes received her BFA from the Academy of Art University. Lissa studied with notable Bay Area artists - Manuel Neri, Nathan Oliveira, Howard Brodie, and Thomas Marsh, and was immersed in figurative studies with her early work combining the human figure as organic forms with abstract colorful displays of movement and mood. Privately, she was highly influenced by the Surrealists and unlocking the unconscious realms of dreamlike paradigms.  Her recent work reflects discovery of ancient power spots, megaliths and portals as well as scientific inquiry regarding the fungi and plant kingdoms.

A keen interest and research into the consciousness of trees and the networking of mycelium has awakened her world to educate others about the shared intelligence and sentient nature of the fungi and plant kingdoms as well as the healing properties they supply our own mankind.  Her goal is to enlighten the viewer with the networking that happens right beneath our feet and in front of our eyes to examine how we are all connected. “Healing is right at our fingertips. The earth supplies all medicine necessary for mental and physical health and the great knowledge of our ancestors from all parts of the globe should be revered and not forbidden”.

Lissa feels that artists are cultural historians and hold witness to our human condition. She advocates for our ancestors who harnessed great mathematical and cosmological knowledge leveraging the natural physics of the Earth. “The great influence is said to come from other beings, another dimension, another planet. Sacred geometry, the golden ratio and utilizing the cardinal directions were all systemically utilized by highly advanced civilizations whose great knowledge has since disappeared. Or has it?”

Ecological sustainability with conscious solutions, deforestation, ocean acidification, ancestral knowledge, and plant medicines are among the concerns and interests depicted in her works today.