Lydia Gilpin
"Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable." - Cesar A. Cruz
This quote encapsulates my artistic practice. I create work that explores mental health struggles and societal issues, aiming to both challenge and provide comfort. For me, art is therapeutic: it offers a space for personal healing and reflection. My art is personal: I have put myself in every piece of art I have made. As an artist, I focus more on the process rather than the product. Through my work, I explore the intersection of vulnerability and resilience, hoping to spark conversation and deepen understanding. My art invites others to reflect on their own experiences while also confronting the complexities of the world around us.
What are you doing up there?, 2023, oil on canvas, 18”x24”
Sweet Dreams Kitty, 2024, print of a linocut, 2”x2”
Exposed (part of the series Vulnerability), 2023, oil on canvas, 16”x20”
Nearly Naked (part of the series Vulnerability), 2023, oil on canvas, 16”x20”
Ashamed, Yet Open (part of the series Vulnerability), 2023, oil on canvas, 16”x20”
You Are What You Eat (Off of), 2024, hand-built ceramics, varying sizes
This shit is exhausting, 2024, hand-built ceramic, 3.5” radius
Cup, 2024, thrown ceramic, 3” tall x 3” wide
What have I done?, 2023, photograph, 8”x10”
Lost in Time, 2021, cut black cardstock, 9”x12”
The Search for a Friend, 2023; fabric, buttons, dye, magnets, pins, thread; 20”x24”
Playdate, 2024, print from two etched copper plates, 6”x9”
in memoria, 2024, print from reduction woodcut, 9”x12”
1900 Block of N Darien, 2024, print from etched copper plate, 9”x9”
Hydration Station, 2023, oil on hand-stretched canvas, 30”x30”
Emotional Support Water Bottle, 2023, oil on canvas, 16”x20”
Is there a place I can go?, 2023, mixed media (watercolor, pen, magazine, paper, marker), 7”x10”
Long Distance Love, 2023, mixed media collage (magazine, paint, sequins, paper), 16”x20”
Still Life, 2023, oil on canvas, 20”x20”
Star Boy Gloves, 2024, yarn, 6.5” around x 7.5” tall
Lydia Gilpin is an interdisciplinary artist from Northeast Pennsylvania, currently based in Philadelphia. They work with drawing, fibers, painting, and mixed media, often exploring new mediums. Lydia moved to Philadelphia to pursue art therapy and plans to continue with an MA in Art Therapy at Drexel University after graduating from Tyler Spring 2025. As a future art therapy, their focus is on using art as a tool for healing, and they are particularly interested in exploring art therapy for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing community and creating accessible healing through art for all.
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@lydia.gilpin and @art.by.lyds