Statement

Artists often embed meaning in the media to lock in their reality. Trouble is, the real is not always the obvious. For example, I work the theme of carnival—idiosyncratic, surreal, transformative—complete here with matching metaphor: fashion. For isn’t fashion the ultimate disguise, with its accompanying masks celebrating toil and play?

Biography

An award-winning mixed media artist, Betsy Orbe Lester teaches where she learned, both at Eckerd College (Bachelor of Arts) and USF (Master of Fine Arts).

Permanent collections: Tampa Museum, Gulf Coast Museum, Neiman Marcus and private collections. Recent exhibitions: Denis Bibro Fine Art, NYC; Brevard Art Museum, Boca Raton Museum and undercurrent/overview, Tampa Museum. Solo shows: Merrick Gallery and The Arts Center.

Recipient of Pinellas County Arts Council ARF Grant (99’,’04), she was 1996
Pinellas Artist in Residence. Featured on Kid’s place as the “Art Lady” on Vision Cable TV, former Delta flight attendant Betsy resides in Treasure Island, Florida.