Lee Lanier opened his gallery, Lee Lanier Paints, in July — amid a pandemic. But although the timing isn’t ideal, but he’s betting on the location and life eventually returning to normal.
“The timing is a bit risky, but an ideal gallery space was available with a lease that was reduced due to the pandemic,” he said. “The thought is to ride out the lock-down and be ready when life returns to normal. It will return to normal, or at least something very close to it. The American spirit is hard to defeat and people are already anxious to live their lives and enjoy such culture as art.
“All that said, The Arts Factory has had a consistent stream of visitors in the last two months, both locals and tourists. The temporary cancellation of First Friday has removed the large crowds once a month, but that will return.”
Do you think the gentrification of downtown will have a negative or positive impact on your business?
Gentrification, in and of itself, is never a problem. The question is: How much gentrification do we want? Personally, I welcome the improved roads, curbing and parking in the Arts District. I like seeing fewer and fewer vacant buildings. I don’t want an excess of trash or graffiti; at the same time, I enjoy well-executed murals painted in the alleys or on otherwise unattractive spots. I want to see thriving restaurants and bars and shops, but I’d hate to see the rents go so high that most artists are driven out. It is the Arts District, so we need to keep a decent amount of art. This will be an ongoing conversation and I’m glad the Las Vegas Arts District 501(c)(4) organization is working on this complicated matter. As for other parts of downtown, I see gentrification in a mostly positive light, as the result will be more attractive to the average tourist and conventiongoer.
Many galleries in Las Vegas tend to have a short lifespan. What are the future plans or hopes for your space, and where do you see your art in five years?
I am in it for the long haul. As a relatively new painter, it’s important for me to gain exposure to collectors. Keeping a consistent presence with a gallery is a critical part of that. I’d like to see my art transition from simply paying for itself to replacing my other income (I have been a professional animator for many years). I do believe the Arts District will have its own Renaissance, and I would like to be a part of that.
What is the theme of your artwork?
The most common descriptive word I hear is “beautiful” — and that’s very intentional. I’m a contemporary figurative painter who paints strong, beautiful women. I base my characters on mythological, historical or literary figures and bring them into a modern setting. The paintings are bright, colorful and positive. I use local models as reference, some of whom are professional models and some of whom come from different professional backgrounds.
What is your preferred medium?
Acrylic on canvas. These days, I am working large and am currently painting a 12x6 foot triptych with nine characters.
Have you seen art evolve alongside technology? Where do you see it going and where do you see yourself in it?
New art forms spring up as technology develops. For example, there are the exciting fields of AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality). I love experimenting with and combining the old and new arts. In fact, I’ve added AR to several of my paintings; point a phone or tablet in their direction and you’ll see an overlay of additional information and behind-the-scenes videos. I’ve also built a VR gallery you can visit on my website; if you can’t visit in person due to COVID-19, you can still see my paintings in a gallery-like setting. AR and VR are relatively new and there is still the struggle to figure out how they are best used. I hope to contribute my own small part to their development.
From animation to literature and fine art, is there some kind of connection between all the works you’ve done?
Storytelling is the one thread that runs through them all, I started as a filmmaker because I thought film was the ultimate form of artistic storytelling. I transitioned to 3-D animation for the same reason, with the bonus that you can create almost anything you can think of on a computer. The books I wrote were technical and helped other people learn animation, but there’s still an element of storytelling; for example, how can you light a 3-D scene to evoke a particular mood or to communicate a story point?
What is the best professional advice you’ve received?
Fellow professional artists have shared some good insights with me. These include how to price paintings based on square-inch formulas, how to choose a frame, and how to develop a recognizable persona. One insight I will share here is the fact that expensive paintings take a long time to sell because the collectors, despite their wealth, are generally very cautious about such large investments.
If you could have dinner with three people, who would they be?
How about Thor Heyerdahl, the bad-ass archaeologist and adventurer; Tshiro Mifune, the amazing Japanese actor of Yojimbo fame; and Gwen Stefani, my favorite pop singer who is never not beautiful. It would have to be in a funky coffee shop or Tiki bar with no particular schedule and plenty of time to riff on metaphysical topics. I admire these people for their dedication to their craft and their general gutsiness.
What is something that people might not know about you?
Despite my quiet demeanor, I’m fond of edgy cultural pursuits such as Burning Man and burlesque performances. Despite the general positivity of my current art, I have a deep appreciation of the surreal, the dark and the twisted — hence, I’m a fan of David Lynch and won’t shy away from any art that might be considered “a little disturbing.”
Anything else you want to tell us?
Even if you’re not in the market to buy art, come on down to the Arts Factory. As artists, we love discussing art, art history and related culture. Unless you are in high-risk category, it’s a safe outing. Masks, social distancing, and the fact the big building doesn’t get too crowded are all positives, The Arts Factory is open seven days a week, too. Otherwise, visit me at lee-lanier-paints.com.