Artwork copyright Liza vonRosenstiel. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Sitting in Limbo, 1985

Liza vonRosenstiel
American (born 1954)

Location: Sultan High School, Sultan

About the Artwork

Sitting in Limbo is a self-portrait by artist Liza vonRosenstiel. She depicts herself seated with a lucky baseball cap she wears while painting. She describes limbo as “that time when you’re trying to make a decision and your mind is going in a million directions and suggesting every option in the world... when you're not moving forward and not moving backward, but just waiting for the answer.”

VonRosenstiel starts her paintings with an idea. For Sitting in Limbo, she knew that she wanted to paint a full-size, seated self-portrait. The other parts of the painting evolved as she worked on it.

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Sultan 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.