Lindsay Spina moved from California to Oregon at seventeen to attend the University of Oregon, where she earned her BFA in Painting. Captivated by Oregon's natural rugged beauty, she has called it home ever since.
She began working in Portland galleries in 2000, and later transitioned into picture framing for prominent Portland and coastal galleries. Working closely with artwork, artists, and gallery owners deeply informed her own work, which at the time focused primarily on two-dimensional mixed-media landscapes.
In 2008, her career expanded when she earned a Master's in Art Therapy. Integrating art making and the creative process into therapeutic work became a passion, allowing her to support children and families in addressing mental health challenges while giving back to her community. She continues to work as a mental health therapist while maintaining her own art business, La Spina Designs, exhibiting her work at local galleries, street fairs, and community art events.
In 2025, her artistic focus shifted significantly after studying natural-material weaving techniques. Drawn to sculptural forms and organic processes, she began working with gourds and other natural materials, bridging contemporary fine art with traditional craft methods. Using the inherent structure of the gourd, her current work explores the relationship between nature, rhythm, and restoration.
"My work begins in nature, where I feel most at home and deeply inspired. The rhythms, textures, and resilience of the natural world guide both my material choices and process. When I bring a gourd into my studio it arrives raw and imperfect, carrying the marks of its growth, each one unique. The cleaning, carving, and sanding demand patience and precision, as a refined vessel slowly begins to emerge. The striations, scars, and tonal shifts of the gourd's history are never erased, only used as inspiration and enhanced so its inherent character remains. The vessel continues to evolve through layers of colored dye and intricate patterning, each addition strengthening its presence. The coiling and needlework technique is deliberate and meditative, as my hands move in rhythmic harmony with one another. As an art therapist, I am deeply aware of the regulating effect this process has on my nervous system. In the repetition, I become grounded and fully present, tuning out the internal and external noise. At its heart, my work is about transformation - of material, of energy, and of perception. What begins as something humble in origin becomes a vibrant, refined, and eloquent sculptural form. These vessels invite viewers into a similar experience of stillness and restoration, offering a tactile reminder that growth, imperfection, and change are integral to authenticity." |
Media: Mixed Media | Non-Traditional Media | Sculpture
Studio Number: 45
Address: 1537 SE 51st Ave Portland OR 97215
Community: SE Portland
Accessibility: Not Wheelchair accessible (2 steps to go inside the front door)
Email: lindsay@laspinadesigns.com
Website: laspinadesigns.com
Instagram: @laspinadesigns
