Art breathes life into a room, enhancing the atmosphere and expressing the spirit of those who live there. Artist Yvette Lenzi creates works with which collectors fall in love. For proof, flip through this magazine. Most issues have a Lenzi original somewhere in the pages. Whether it’s a home tour, images from a gallery party, or a tastemaker photographed in her favorite room, the space is often adorned by one of these gorgeous canvases.

“I grew up in Riverside with a wonderful family. I’ve always been artistic. I’ve always been creative, which led me to a career as an art teacher,” Lenzi explains. She smiles as she recalls her mother, a major influence on her life. “She would say, ‘paint me something’ and I would.”

Motherhood and teaching kept Lenzi busy, and her warm spirit drew people to her along the way. “I’m so fortunate to be supported by a wonderful group of women who encourage me to paint,” says Lenzi. “My tennis friends, fellow hockey moms and fellow PTA members have been amazing friends and the best cheerleaders,” she adds.

Through this network of extraordinary ladies, Yvette became a supporter of local organizations, including Hinsdale Junior Woman’s Club (HJWC), the Zion Lutheran Early Childhood Education Program, and the Hinsdale Historical Society. “Being connected to my community is so important to me, and I’m hoping to create a legacy. Giving back is a wonderful way to be remembered someday,” says Lenzi.

Yvette’s aura of positivity is so complete that she even spins the soggy morning of the Hinsdale Kitchen Walk as a grand adventure. “I debuted my Little Delights, which are small 6” x 9” paintings that are perfect for collecting or gift giving. Sine the Kitchen Walk kicks off Mother’s Day weekend, it made me so happy that these works were snapped up as gifts from daughters to mothers and mothers to daughters,” Lenzi says.

It’s not just philanthropists who love Lenzi. Interior designers and real estate visionaries love her art because it is serene, balanced, and emotional. “People like neutrals, but they want something that speaks to them,” the artist explains.

This summer, while school is out and the social swirl slows, Yvette will spend time at her family cabin by the lake. This is a place that always inspires., even when a storm blows in with wind and waves. “I love the contrasts of nature, the beauty, and the turbulence of the wild. One of my recent series of works is called Sand and Storm. I believe it captures the essence of both,” says Lenzi.

It is such a gift to have extraordinary galleries in our midst. It is wildly exciting that artists walk among us and support the causes we love. Yvette Lenzi is among the best of them. “Stay true to your heart and you’ll make the world around you better every day,” she says.

yvettelenziart.com, @yvettelenzi