Interview
Vanity Lisa Rodriguez
Vanity Rodriguez is a Latina multidisciplinary artist based in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, originally from New York City. Her work exists between the dreamy and the strange — blending emotion, surrealism, and the subconscious into visual stories that feel both intimate and otherworldly. Guided by intuition and inspired by music, Vanity creates from emotion rather than plan. She began painting as a child, later working in theater as a set painter and prop master before returning to canvas work during the pandemic. Since then, her art has gained international attention, with over ten galleries and art fairs — including the New York Art Expo and the Tokyo International Art Festival — inviting her to exhibit. In addition to her studio practice, Vanity hosts Bristles & Brews, a series of community sip-and-paint events that bring people together through creativity and connection. She also recently performed a live painting on stage with The Sound of Animals Fighting at Webster Hall in New York City. Her art reflects the human experience — raw, surreal, and deeply felt.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I’m a visual artist from New York City, now based in Tennessee. My journey in art began in childhood, sketching and painting as a way to process emotion and connect with the world around me. I continued creating into my teenage years but had a long gap away from painting on canvas. During that time, I pursued my creative passions through theater—working as a scenic painter, prop master, and set decorator, a path I began in college and carried with me professionally until the pandemic. When the world paused, I found myself returning to painting, this time with deeper purpose and emotion. I’ve now been painting consistently for nearly six years, merging my background in theatrical design with fine art to create immersive, symbolic works. Through Vanity Lisa Art, I blend surrealism, spirituality, and storytelling—often reflecting transformation, memory, and the unseen connections between art, music, and human experience.”
What inspires you?
“My human experience: Dreams and fantasy, love, passion, desire, sensuality and expressing that in ways that only I understand. Pain, Sorrow, beauty, flowers, God.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“I don’t really go after specific themes on purpose — they just kind of show up on their own, usually coming from whatever I’m feeling or going through at the time. If this were the movie The Cell, I think my paintings would look like what my mind and its characters would be —like a visual version of what’s happening inside me. I might not always know what the message is while I’m creating, but I believe it’s always there, connected to my emotions and personal journey. Sometimes, I figure it out while I’m painting, and other times it only makes sense once it’s finished. Either way, I’m really drawn to exploring those subconscious layers that sneak their way into my art.”
How would you describe your work?
“Dreamy. Strange.”
Which artists influence you most?
“The trio: Frida, Dalí, and Van Gogh — with a wee dash of Giuseppe Arcimboldo. I wouldn’t say I’m directly influenced by them, but I deeply relate to the way they expressed themselves through their art. If anything, music is my biggest influence. It shapes my mood, my colors, and the energy behind what I paint.”
What is your creative process like?
“Spontaneous. That’s really the best word for it. I never know exactly where a piece is going when I start — it’s all about flow, intuition, and emotion leading the way.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“I think artists are kind of these natural thought-provokers. You know, when someone sees a painting they really love, or hears a song lyric that moves them, it can spark something. It can inspire them to think differently, feel something new, or even do something good that day. And it’s not always about just the good emotions — it can be a whole range. There’s this kind of innate, inspirational and healing quality in art that we don’t necessarily intend, it just happens naturally when people connect with what we create. As for how that’s evolving, I don’t really think artists themselves are changing all that much. What’s really evolving is just the way we can express ourselves — all the new technology or tools that let us share our art in different ways. But the core of what we do, that emotional and healing part, stays the same.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I don’t have traditional gallery exhibitions to share (yet), but I’ve had some pretty exciting live art experiences! For example, I did a live painting show with The Sound of Animals Fighting at Webster Hall. That was definitely a highlight for me!”
Instagram: @vanitylisa.art
