Tomorrow the Sun Will Rise: Ringo Lisko

Learn more about the artists in Tomorrow the Sun Will Rise: The Phillips Collection Juried Exhibition (on view August 1-September 20, 2026).

Tell us about your work in Tomorrow the Sun Will Rise. 

I made this work at a point when I was feeling particularly lost. It felt like the only thing each new day brought was yet another wave of hatred and fear, and it was really difficult in those moments to see how art could possibly do anything to help.

This piece is an attempt to embody that feeling—the visceral desire to align oneself with something, *anything*, good in times of seeming hopelessness.

Sorrow, or Frustration is created by cleaning the hosting space—an act which emphasizes the importance of care for the spaces that hold us. The collected dust is then used to write the phrase “or simply longing to stand next to something beautiful”—a continuation of the title which places emphasis on better things to come. 

Tell us about your artistic process. 

My process is very introspective—I typically spend far more time thinking than I do making. I think this is in large part due to the fact that I am interested in acts of care and intention—and how that translates into the physical world—and those things naturally take time in order to have depth of meaning.

Honestly, it’s pretty difficult to separate my practice from any other facet of my life. One of the hardest lessons I’ve learned over the years is that, in essence, art is about life–so in order to make art you have to live. So much of that happens outside the studio, you know? It’s in the memories of your mom’s flower beds, or the song you listened to one too many times after you got your heart broken, or the scuff marks in that one hallway that accumulate into a score composed by everyone that has passed through it. Those are the things that anchor me. 

What themes are central to your artistic process?

I think this kind of goes back to the earlier question—my practice is rooted in a commitment to slowness and intention. This was very much informed by the time I spent working as a sculpture fabricator. Working in foundries is an incredible and fulfilling experience, but it’s also so deeply tied to production, which by necessity often leaves the poetry of making behind. It became very important to me to remove those values from my practice, to allow my work to unfold carefully, over time.

I have always been interested in relationships as well—the marks that people leave on each other’s lives, the way that we are shaped by the places that raised us—even the most seemingly mundane actions to me carry such tremendous implications. I strive to make work that brings that to light. 

How has living in the DMV area impacted and influenced your artistic journey? 

Baltimore is the first place that I really chose to live, so it will always be important to me for that reason. But what I love about it is how artist-run the scene is—that was a big part of why I moved up here. Sure, it’s a lot grittier than New York or Miami, but I find the energy so refreshing and much more accessible. I knew I wanted to be a part of that, which inspired me to start my own gallery space, spare room. I’d been doing DIY curatorial projects for a while, but Baltimore is where that side of my passion really gelled. spare room became a place for artists to breathe, to realize new work, and to connect with each other. Since its founding in 2022, I’ve had the pleasure of working with so many wonderful artists, and we just celebrated our 25th exhibition earlier this year. 

What does it mean to you to be part of this exhibition? 

I’m incredibly honored to be included in such a great group of artists. This is my first museum show, which is a pretty big milestone for me—I’m so grateful to [exhibition curator] Tie for having faith in my work, and I’m looking forward to sharing it with a greater audience. 

Anything else you would like to share about you/your art? 

You can find me on Instagram @rrlisko (my practice) and @spareroomgallery_bmore (gallery/project space)