For more than 25 years, Lori Polson built a career behind the scenes—connecting world-class portrait artists with collectors and clients. Today, she stepped out from behind the curtain and onto the canvas herself.
Polson, a Bergen County local and a longtime art director-turned-portrait consultant, began her career at Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Worldwide in New York. Yet it was her lifelong love of painting that ultimately drew her closer to the artists she represented—and eventually, into their world.
“I’ve been drawing and painting my entire life,” she said. “My style leans toward expressionism and impressionism, but in my twenties I gave realism a shot and took classes at the Art Students League of New York. That’s where I met so many of the artists I still represent today.”
Those relationships flourished and Polson founded her portrait agency, helping match traditional realist painters with collectors and clients around the country. “The reason for a portrait is to celebrate a person or an achievement—it’s a happy business,” she said. “I love finding the right artist for the right client.”
It wasn’t until the pandemic lockdowns of 2020 that Polson returned to her own brushes. With her children home from school and college, she began painting again—starting with portraits of her kids. “It was a return to something very personal,” she said. “And then the landscapes, still lifes, and abstracts followed.”
Her work, often described as expressive and richly textured, reflects what she calls “loose, juicy brushstrokes, dynamic cropping, and bold color combinations.” Drawing inspiration from Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act, Polson seeks to capture “the extraordinary hidden in the seemingly mundane.”
Polson’s years of experience as a representative shape her perspective. “I have so much respect for the artists I represent,” she said. “They work under tight deadlines, with immense pressure to please a client. I don’t have that pressure—I paint freely, and I know what a gift that is.”
Even as she’s stepped into her own spotlight—exhibiting at venues including Chelsea galleries and public libraries—Polson continues to run her agency full time. “It’s hard to boast about yourself,” she laughed. “I could use an agent of my own.”
Balancing creativity with business, she finds joy in both. “Sometimes I’ll finish a day of client work and head straight to my easel. It’s a great way to end the day.”
Her advice to anyone pursuing creativity? “Go. Do it,” she says. “If you feel 19, even if you’re not—carry on like you are.”
To view or purchase her work, visit www.LoriWeisbartArt.com or learn more about portrait commissions at www.LoriPolson.com.
Where to Find Lori’s Work This Year
Upcoming Exhibitions:
- Permanent Exhibition Piermont Fine Arts Gallery, with a Solo Show February and March 2026
- Hackensack Library, NJ – July 2025
- Westwood Library, NJ – August 2025
- Haverstraw Library, NY – September 2025
- Great Neck Library, NY – also September 2025
- Oakland Library, NJ – October 2025
- The Galleries at the Union, Narrowsburg, NY – October 2025 - December 2025, with Oct 11th reception
- Tribeca Gallery, 72 Warren Street NY – November 7-10 Exhibit with November 7th, 2025 Reception