Artwork copyright Liza vonRosenstiel. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Cow/Lizard, 1993

Liza vonRosenstiel
American (born 1954)

Location: Vaughn Elementary, Vaughn

About the Artwork

Cow/Lizard by Liza vonRosenstiel is part of a series of sculptural icons of animals, made of found objects and painted elements. She notes that the piece was inspired by “looking at Mexican metal work, collecting a back and seat of a chair from the [ranch] dump, and gazing eye to eye with a cow and nose to nose with a lizard.”

This series began while vonRosenstiel taught and lived at Deep Springs College, a college and working ranch located in the remote high desert of Eastern California. She spent a lot of time watching the animals: cows, horses, lizards, and more. She also collected pieces of metal, old furniture pieces, tractor parts, and other "junk" around the ranch that she eventually used to create this series of artworks. 

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Peninsula School District.

About the Artist

Longtime Washington artist and teacher Liza vonRosenstiel draws imagery and inspiration from animals and the natural world. Her paintings inspire the viewer to imagine their own stories. Her art is also inspired by the news, Indian miniatures, and early Italian painting.
VonRosenstiel earned a Bachelor of Fine Art degree from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in 1978. She lived on Whidbey Island, Western Washington for over twenty years, and is currently based in Arizona.