ideaLizms is an art-based philosophy. Aside from being clay sculptures created by Liz Kitchens, ideaLizms are intended to inspire and encourage people to live their lives creatively and have fun. ideaLizms says, “Go ahead, be brave, lose the beige”, gently poking fun at societal rules and norms. It says yes when the world around you says no. Escape from stress and schedules even for a second or two and discover the playful side of life through ideaLizms

Liz’s art is exhibited in galleries and homes across the United States. Her work has been used by the League of Women’s Voters to encourage voter participation and registration; and by the Young Democrats of America as a symbol of their political organization in the 2008 election cycle. She has received awards from museum sponsored juried competitions and the “Designer of Democracy” award from ACORN, a national organization of community organizers, for creating an acorn icon to serve as a symbol for their organization. She founded the Jeremiah Project in 2003, an after-school pottery, computer and performing arts program targeted to help at-risk middle school-aged students.

Liz's Artist's Statement

Many artists refer to themselves as “fine artists”. I prefer to call myself a “fun artist”. My version of art emphasizes joy and fun, through the use of color and whimsical sculptures. These sculptures – my “ideaLizms” often take the form of social commentary and word play. Playing with words is almost as fun as playing with the polymer clay I use to sculpt my ideaLizms. I am a potter by training. For years, I have created pottery on the wheel and out of slabs. I have created several of my ideaLizms out of clay slabs filling them with polymer clay fashion accessories, political symbols, food, art, and other objects from every day life.