Motherless Child (Cocoon of Shadows)

Lola Montes Schnabel is a painter, ceramist, photographer and filmmaker. Her highly spiritual and intuitive practice explores themes of ritual, nature, sensuality and femininity. She moved three years ago to Sicily, Italy, engaging in a conscious retreat in the pursuit of introspection, and as material and artistic experimentation. Imbued with a raw, visceral quality that resonates with the island's rugged landscapes and rich history, Schnabel’s work acts a form of storytelling, as she strives to reveal what is beyond the surface. Schnabel received a BFA from The Cooper Union School in 2008. She has exhibited at Nilufar gallery, Milan; Nino Mier Gallery, Los Angeles, CA; Vito Schnabel Gallery, New York, NY; Tripoli Gallery, Wainscott, NY; Goodroom, Munich, DE; Mana Contemporary, Jersey City, NJ; Zuecca Projects, Venice, Italy; Ileana Tounta Contemporary Art Center, Athens, Greece; and the Ludwig Museum, Koblenz, Germany; among others. In addition to her painting and sculpture practice, Montes is a film maker and designer. Schnabel has directed and edited at least 14 short films and music videos. She has participated in a variety of cross-disciplinary projects, working in sound design, radio, and with fashion houses. Schnabel serves on the board of advisors for Anthology Film Archives in New York, and her film, Dialogue Between a Soul and Nature, was presented at the 2013 Venice Biennale.