Biography

Lucy Kienitz Spence was born in Payson, Arizona, United States of America (1957). She now lives and works in Columbia, South Carolina, United States of America. She travels regularly to Japan, where she practices the Japanese art of ikebana. Kienitz Spence's paintings depict meditative third spaces in which she seeks to disrupt boundaries of time and cultures. In these works, nature coexists with human-made objects depicted through impressionistic and abstracted elements. She uses both water-based and oil paints on surfaces including watercolor paper, yupo paper mounted on board, and stretched canvas.

​

The artist launched her career with "Garden Impressions" at Jasper Galleries (2025), creating impressionistic oil paintings that drew on memories growing up near flower fields owned by Japanese Americans. The second series, "Pilgrimage" (2025) explored Japanese mark making and abstraction. The paintings were made during and after an extended pilgrimage to 34 temples in the Chichibu area, north of Tokyo.

​

Kienitz Spence has exhibited her work at the Arts Council of York County 36th Annual Juried Competition, Rock Hill, South Carolina, United States of America; Art Can Change the World, Charlotte, North Carolina, United States of America; Celebrate Art Juried Show, Hendersonville, North Carolina, United States of America; Jasper Galleries, Columbia, South Carolina, United States of America; and other local venues. Her works are included in various private collections.