"COLOR CAME INTO MY WORK WHEN I STARTED TO THINK ABOUT THINGS IN A DIFFERENT WAY. I BECAME INTERESTED IN THE WEST COAST PAINTERS... EVENTUALLY, THE COLOR BECAME PART OF MY OEUVRE AND MY WORK. IT BECAME A MORE BRILLIANT, MORE INTENSE PALETTE."
Elizabeth Osborne, a prominent figure in Philadelphia's art scene, has distinguished herself with her diverse explorations in painting. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Osborne studied at Friends Central School, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), and the University of Pennsylvania. Her figures often evoke themes of loss and longing, reflecting a deep connection to her personal experiences.
Elizabeth Osborne's personal life was marked by profound tragedy. She experienced the loss of her father to leukemia in 1945, followed by her mother's suicide in 1948. Her twin sister Anne also took her own life in 1955 while Osborne was in France on a fellowship. These traumatic events deeply influenced her work, imbuing her figurative paintings with a sense of longing and separation.
Osborne continually sought new directions as an artist, and her career features a remarkable evolution in style and subject matter. Her early work was influenced by mentors such as Louis W. Flaccus and Hobson Pittman, and focused on thickly painted figure studies and still lifes. As her career progressed, she began explorations of landscapes in vibrant, fluid acrylics. Her work has ranged from precise, evocative watercolors to bold abstractions, culminating in a series of paintings that merge color and form in innovative ways.
Throughout her career, Osborne has balanced representation with abstraction, capturing both the tangible and the ephemeral. Her most recent works incorporate both figure and abstract elements, blending her past techniques with fresh explorations.