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By Michelle Crowe
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATRINA WITTKAMP
STYLING BY THERESA DEMARIA
HAIR AND MAKEUP BY LEANNA ERNEST
Yvette Lenzi with her original artwork, Roasting Beans, Oil/ mixed media/coffee grounds in the Starbucks at Hinsdale Avenue and Washington Street in Hinsdale.
Yvette Lenzi’s artwork hangs in Hinsdale estates and Paris pieds-a-terre. Collectors appreciate her work for its subtle emotion, serene palette, and balance. She is committed to staying open to all possibilities in art and in life, which makes her a perfect fit for the Starbucks Art Program.
Starbucks realized that their stores see more foot traffic than many museums in the world and decided to capitalize on this by partnering with local artists to foster community in their stores. When the store at Hinsdale Avenue and Washington Streets in Hinsdale was recently renovated, Yvette was tapped to create an original artwork for the refreshed interior.
Working through iterations with the team, Yvette presented ideas including a version of the iconic mermaid.
The vision really began to take shape when Yvette, who uses texture in her work, was inspired to add real coffee grounds to the painting. With this artistic stroke of genius, her concept was approved, and Yvette was off to the studio to create the finished work. “It was a different process than painting a series or even a commission,” Yvette says.
She’s since collaborated with Serena & Lily and is in talks with other design houses to bring her work to audiences across the country. One of Yvette’s favorite quotes is “Art is everywhere. Art is everything.” It’s fitting that she’s brought this philosophy to this Starbucks location, which functions almost as a crossroads of the town, with so many people stopping in for a pick-me-up during the day. With this beautiful artwork on display, each patron can fuel their spirit as well as their energy.
Knowing that her work hangs where writers, philanthropists, and other artists work warm and caring woman. “Art is such a part of my life, although it is special to this does not define me. This is my gift to a community that has embraced and supported me. I hope it inspires other artists and those who don’t think of themselves as artists, but who have art within themselves,” she says.
