Isabel Riley is a painter, sculptor, and musician who works out of a loft in New Bedford. She is additionally employed as a union scenic artist in the feature film and TV business, and as in her artwork, she transforms spaces and surfaces, creating new environments from scratch to step into. Riley studied at Mass College of Art, has exhibited extensively, and has a wide collector base.

Riley's painting is systematic and intuitively process driven. She builds up layers by freehand and stencil, adding and subtracting to coax the paintings' spirit to reveal itself. The shapes, forms, and lines double as foregrounded thresholds to imagined landscapes; windows that simultaneously obscure, fragment, and reveal that which lies beyond. Enchantment arises in these liminal moments as the viewer stands with their feet in reality while peering into the depths of a dream space.

Writing | Installation shots

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SHOWCASE: BLUE VISTA MOTOR LODGE IN FLORIDA MA
SHOWCASE: BLUE VISTA MOTOR LODGE IN FLORIDA MA

I’m so very pleased to have a variety of prints permanently installed in the guest rooms at Blue Vista Motor Lodge.  This was a wonderful collaboration between myself, my friend and owner Stella Downie, and Jameson and Thompson Picture Framers who printed, framed, and installed the work. The work we chose complements the stunning mountaintop setting of the hotel in Florida, MA just a few miles from North Adams and the wonderful Mass Moca Museum. Book a trip now!

INTERVIEW: THE NEW BEDFORD LIGHT
INTERVIEW: THE NEW BEDFORD LIGHT

In this wonderful feature that the talented David Walega shot and produced for the New Bedford Light, I talk about my inspirations and process in the context of making art in my loft in this historic city. Full article can be viewed here.

RESIDENCY IN POUCH COVE NEWFOUNDLAND
RESIDENCY IN POUCH COVE NEWFOUNDLAND

I was very lucky to be a fellow at the Pouch Cove Foundation Newfoundland for the month of February 2023. This was a privilege and an adventure. This slice of heaven is perched on a cove on the edge of the world that is lit with the clearest skies and filled with the endless sea.

REVIEW: ELEVATED
REVIEW: ELEVATED

Excited to share a good review of the group show, Elevated! Read the review at Big Red and Shiny here.

NEW: ART FOR FILM NYC
NEW: ART FOR FILM NYC

Art for Film NYC, a source for set decoration in the film, tv and commercial industries is now featuring a selection of my paintings and works on paper.