Lori received her bachelor of fine arts degree from the California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland, and her master's from the Maryland Institute, College of Art, Baltimore. She has received a Bush Fellowship and a Henry Walters Travel Scholarship. Her work has been exhibited locally and in New York. She currently is an artist-in-residence for the St. Paul public schools.

Gustavo, a native of Mexico, attended the Autonomous University of Mexico National School of Fine Art. In 1999, he received awards from COMPAS and the St. Paul Foundation, as well as a Jerome Foundation travel grant. He has served as artist-in-residence in public schools throughout Minnesota. He and Lori, his wife, are the parents of two children.

Artist's Statement As we considered artistic possibilities that directly related to housing or the home, we decided to create a quilt, because this object calls to mind warmth, comfort, and security much the way a house does. We also thought it would be really exciting to work with kids to help develop some of the imagery we incorporated. This project has enabled us to work together using our respective media. We're both committed to doing art that promotes social change. And we both believe in, and acknowledge in our work, the importance of our individual ancestries: Gustavo looks to the imagery and history of Mexico, and Lori is inspired by African and Native American art.

Visual Art | Lori Greene and Gustavo Lira