Mosaic Virtual Talk: Stories in Color: Art, Memory, and Rural Life

Stories in Color: A Virtual Art Talk with Dr. Lisa Cain

Tuesday, January 13, 2026
6:00 – 7:00 PM EDT
Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/9794618227
Hosted by the BPIA Mosaic Committee

Join the BPIA Mosaic Committee for an inspiring virtual art talk featuring Dr. Lisa Cain, a celebrated Mississippi-born folk artist whose work captures the dignity, resilience, and everyday beauty of rural Southern life.

A native of Canton, Mississippi, Dr. Cain is a self-taught artist who began painting the people and places that shaped her childhood—those whose stories are rarely told but deeply felt. Her acrylic and mixed-media works weave together personal memory, cultural heritage, and social history, transforming ordinary moments into extraordinary tributes to humanity.

Dr. Cain’s artwork has been featured in exhibitions across the nation, including the American Visionary Art Museum, The Kennedy Center, and Art of Noize Gallery in Washington, D.C. Her pieces are also part of private collections of award-winning artists such as Viola Davis and Ruth Carter, and her paintings have appeared on film sets including Denzel Washington’s A Journal for Jordan.

Through vivid color and heartfelt storytelling, Dr. Cain invites audiences to reflect on the lessons of community, legacy, and love passed down through generations.

RSVP today to experience an evening of art, memory, and meaning that celebrates the brilliance of everyday lives.

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ABOUT THE ARTIST

Dr. Lisa Cain is a Mississippi-born, self-taught folk artist whose work is rooted in memory, community, and the lived experiences of rural Southern life. A native of Canton, Mississippi, she paints the people and places that shaped her childhood—individuals whose stories are rarely recorded but deeply felt. Through her art, Dr. Cain honors lives defined by dignity, intelligence, pride, and hard work.

Working primarily in acrylic on canvas, Dr. Cain’s traditional folk art draws viewers into intimate scenes of everyday life. In recent years, she has expanded her practice to include mixed media, blending her signature folk style with vintage photography. While her acrylic works invite audiences into broader community narratives, her mixed-media pieces focus closely on the individual, capturing presence, personality, and legacy.

Much of Dr. Cain’s artistic voice is shaped by time spent in the cotton fields of Mississippi alongside her grandmother, who lived to the age of 98 and profoundly influenced her worldview. From her, Dr. Cain learned quilting, storytelling, and the enduring value of time, patience, and shared labor. These formative experiences continue to inform her work, which reflects lessons learned beyond textbooks—lessons passed down through generations, family, and community.

Dr. Cain’s artwork has been exhibited nationally at institutions including the American Visionary Art Museum, The Kennedy Center, and Art of Noize Gallery in Washington, DC. Her paintings are held in private collections belonging to acclaimed artists such as Viola Davis and Ruth Carter, and her work has appeared on the film set of A Journal for Jordan, directed by Denzel Washington. Through vivid color and heartfelt storytelling, Dr. Cain creates art that resonates with everyday people—collectors and viewers who see their own lives, memories, and histories reflected on the canvas.