Larimer County Department of Natural Resources selects 2016 Visual Artist

Larimer County Department of Natural Resources has selected painter Lyse Dzija as its 2016 Visual Artist. Dzija will create a work of art inspired by Larimer County’s parks and open spaces.

Dzija was juried into and attended the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the oldest art school in the U.S., before launching her career as a professional artist. Specializing in oil and pastel paintings, Dzija has painted for more than 40 years. She has exhibited her work in galleries and other locations across the U.S., including current shows at Earthwood Galleries in Estes Park and Rabbask Designs and Lola’s Fresh Patina in Loveland. She has won numerous awards at exhibitions in Colorado and elsewhere.

As the 2016 Visual Artist of the Year, “I wish to subtly stir the viewer’s soul to want to explore the outdoors and realize this is an increasingly fading opportunity,” Dzija said, “perhaps realizing the importance of preservation of the woods, mountains and meadows in these days of rural development. … The parks and open spaces offer me an opportunity to interpret the moods that nature readily provides.”

Dzija will spend her time as the 2016 Visual Artist of the Year exploring Larimer County’s parks and open spaces and creating a piece inspired by these amazing places. She will ultimately donate to Larimer County the painting for public display in a county building. Her artwork will be unveiled at a reception in early 2017.

Dzija is the 10th artist to participate in Larimer County Department of Natural Resources’ Visual Artist Program. Artwork created by past visual artists can be viewed at county buildings in downtown Fort Collins and online at www.larimer.org/openlands/artist.htm.

For questions about the Visual Artist Program, contact Teddy Parker-Renga, Community Relations Specialist, at [email protected] or 970-619-4561.