Lisa Nooin Captures Life’s Everyday Moments
Lisa Nooin paints contemporary still life and portraiture with bright, measured colour—table-centred scenes that invite connection to daily life.
Words HANDE RENSHAW Photos LISA NOOIN
Lisa Noon’s work centres on everyday moments, portraiture and still life.
‘I couldn’t bring much with me [from Australia to San Francisco], but I’ve noticed there are eucalyptus trees around San Francisco—their smell instantly makes me feel at home and gives me comfort.’
‘In Kangaroo Larb for Food For Everyone, I wanted the colours and objects to reflect both the vibrancy of the dish and the deeper meaning of food as a connector. My palette was inspired by the freshness of the ingredients, with bright greens, earthy browns and warm tones that suggest nourishment and life.’
Kangaroo Larb, Lisa Nooin’s artwork included in Food For Everyone’s collection.
“In many of my works I paint two cups or bowls—I always think about food as something to be shared. To me it is not just food, it is about connection, celebrating moments together and building bonds with people you love.”
Sardine Toast by Lisa Nooin.
‘Right now I’m working on a new collection that celebrates the many layers and evolving parts of who I am as a woman—through symbols like flowers, food, animals and colour, I am exploring self love, resilience and finding beauty at every stage of life.’
From her San Francisco studio, Lisa Nooin works across still life, portraiture and the day-to-day: glassware that catches light, flowers mid-bloom, plates and vessels set for sharing.
With a background in communication design, with years across working in an agency and in tech, Lisa returned to the slower rhythm of painting during the pandemic, shaping everyday objects into composed, contemporary still life works.
Recently relocating to San Francisco from Australia has recalibrated her process—broadening materials and easing the mark. ‘I also started experimenting with materials other than oils, and I fell in love with the freedom of crayons and coloured pencils,’ shares Lisa. Oils remain the anchor; pencil and wax now test transparencies, sketch edges and quicken decisions.
When momentum dips, Lisa changes the scene, ‘When I feel stuck creatively, I like to step outside. Sometimes it is as simple as a short walk, other times I’ll head to a cafe for a change of scenery or visit a gallery to see new art. Nature always helps too, it clears my mind and makes space for new ideas to come through,’ Lisa shares. Studio days are shaped by simple rituals: a cup of milky tea, a quick Notion to-do list, admin in the morning and painting in the afternoon, all with jazz tunes setting the pace.
Food, its forms and the communities it gathers, threads through Lisa’s practice. ‘When Gemma Leslie, the founder of Food For Everyone reached out, I was so excited because I love their mission of using art and food to help feed people in need. Food has always been a big part of my culture and it represents family and love. We come together to celebrate special occasions and bond over meals. In many of my works I paint two cups or bowls because I always think about food as something to be shared,’ says Lisa. That ethos shaped her work Kangaroo Larb, made with Nat Thaipun: ‘In Kangaroo Larb, I wanted the colours and objects to reflect both the vibrancy of the dish and the deeper meaning of food as a connector… By weaving these details into the piece, I hoped to show how food is more than sustenance, it is an expression of care, belonging and community.’
Her subjects are close at hand. ‘I am drawn to objects with interesting shapes, patterns or textures. Glass is one of my favourites because it allows me to play with colour and light when layering objects. If the object carries a bit of nostalgia or a personal memory, that makes it even more special to paint. I also love thrifting objects because they often come with their own history and hidden stories.’ The new city offers its own anchors, too—eucalyptus on fog-soft mornings, a familiar scent in a different light.
For Lisa, the line in the sand was her debut collection. ‘My proudest achievement has been creating my first art collection, The Extraordinary In The Ordinary. It took me around five months to complete and it helped me grow so much in my skills, style and thinking as an artist.’
What’s next looks inward and outward at once: ‘Right now I am working on a new collection that celebrates the many layers and evolving parts of who I am as a woman… Turning 30 this year feels like a milestone, not of loss but of blooming. I want to remind women that we are beautiful, powerful and worthy not despite our age and imperfections, but because of them. I’m also excited to explore more of a new style in this collection.’
To stay up to date with Lisa’s work, visit her website or follow @lisanooin on Instagram.
