Meet Our Summer Maker-in-Residence: Lisa Cooreman

Ignite Studio welcomes our Summer Maker-in-Residence, Lisa Cooreman! Visit Ignite Studio from May-August 2025 to meet her.

Lisa Cooreman is a multidisciplinary artist and teacher who is passionate about creating and sharing art with people of all ages. Originally from Indiana, her work explores themes of strength, care, and history. Using textiles, printmaking, and found materials, Lisa transforms ideas into engaging and thought-provoking pieces. She believes art helps us understand ourselves and each other, and she is dedicated to creating spaces where people can explore, imagine, and connect. For over 14 years, Lisa traveled the world as a teaching artist, working with students at international schools in Japan, Vietnam, India, and Jordan. Now based in Indianapolis, she continues to inspire creativity in artists of all ages. Whether introducing fellow makers to new materials or guiding them in exploring their own stories, Lisa finds joy in witnessing the creative process. She believes creativity exists in everyone and that making art together is a powerful way to learn, grow, and build community.

Q&A with Lisa Cooreman

Lisa answered our questions about her work and process.

What mediums do you work in and why?

I am an Indianapolis-based multidisciplinary artist working in fiber art, found objects, printmaking, sculpture, and installation. Through an interdisciplinary approach, I explore themes of domesticity, collective care, and resilience, using material and process to weave together personal and shared histories.

What is your favorite art tool/supply?

My favorite art tool isn’t just one thing—it’s the act of transformation itself. I find joy in the process of tearing down and rebuilding, layering textiles, or repurposing found objects, as I’m drawn to how materials can be reimagined and given new meaning. If I had to name a specific tool, it would be my hands—the way I manipulate fabric, stitch fibers together, and shape materials into new forms. I also rely on thread and needle, both practically and metaphorically, as a way to bind, mend, and create structure. The tension between fragility and strength is central to my process, and these tools allow me to explore that balance.

Who are some of your favorite artists?

My favorite artists are those who push boundaries and use materiality to tell deeply personal, historical, and cultural stories. Mona Hatoum’s ability to transform everyday materials into powerful statements about displacement, vulnerability, and power resonates with me. I’m also drawn to Sheila Hicks, whose work expands the possibilities of fiber art, using scale and material to convey resilience, memory, and the strength of connection. El Anatsui’s monumental installations, made from recycled materials and textile-like elements, deeply inspire me. His work not only speaks to transformation and history but also fosters a sense of community, celebrating the ways material, identity, and collective memory are intertwined. Each of these artists influences how I approach storytelling and the ways I explore the intersection of personal and collective histories.

What kinds of things will you be doing during your residency in Ignite?

During my residency at Ignite, I’ll be exploring how textile art can bring people together, fostering community through collaboration, creativity, and hands-on making. By inviting participants into the creative process, I hope to spark meaningful interactions and embrace the unexpected. Working in a large, open space, I’ll have the opportunity to experiment, share my sculptural approach to printmaking, textiles, and sewing, and create an environment where viewers can engage with my process. My goal is to bridge the gap between artist and audience, turning the studio into a space for shared discovery and creative exchange. I’ll also lead workshops in cyanotype printmaking, soft sculpture, silk painting, Japanese paper dyeing, and paper marbling, encouraging participants to explore these techniques while shaping the work alongside me.

What art accomplishment are you most proud of?

As an international teaching artist, mentorship is at the heart of what I do—I love helping students develop their creative voices while continuing to grow in my own practice. My experiences living and teaching in the U.S., Japan, Vietnam, India, and Jordan have given me the opportunity to build meaningful relationships, foster creative exchange, and support artistic communities through collaborations, workshops, murals, and exhibitions.

What is something you still hope to accomplish in art?

I hope to continue expanding the reach of my work, creating immersive installations that invite deeper audience engagement and spark meaningful conversations. I want to explore new ways of integrating textiles, sculpture, and printmaking to push the boundaries of material storytelling. Teaching and mentorship are also deeply important to me—I hope to build spaces where emerging artists feel supported in developing their voices. Ultimately, I want my work to foster connection, resilience, and a sense of collective care across communities.