Lisa S. Roberts: Where Artistry Meets the Antiques of the Future
- Mar 23
- 5 min read
What does it mean to collect the future before the world realizes its value? For Lisa S. Roberts, it’s both a passion and a philosophy, one that has shaped a remarkable collection of design objects, innovations, and artistic expressions that blur the line between utility and art.
Her work, her collection, and her perspective all revolve around a singular idea: today’s everyday objects are tomorrow’s cultural artifacts.
A Vision Rooted in Design
Lisa didn’t just stumble into collecting, she built her perspective through a lifetime immersed in design, architecture, and creative exploration. Her concept of “Antiques of the Future” reframes how we look at the objects around us. Instead of waiting decades for value to emerge, she identifies innovation in real time.
From groundbreaking technology to experimental furniture and conceptual design, her collection captures pivotal moments, those rare instances when design shifts not only how something looks, but how we think.
Icons Before They Became Icons
Walk through Lisa’s collection, and you’ll find objects that once felt futuristic, but are now part of everyday life.
Take the original Dyson vacuum, for example. When it first arrived in the United States, it revolutionized cleaning with its bagless design and bold industrial color, an intentional choice to make the product more appealing and even “fun” to use. Today, that innovation feels standard, but at the time, it changed consumer expectations entirely.
Or consider Google Glass, a product that never fully reached mainstream success but helped ignite the modern conversation around wearable technology. While it may have been ahead of its time, its influence is undeniable in today’s smart eyewear landscape.
Even something as ubiquitous as the first-generation Apple iPhone holds a staggering place in her collection, especially when preserved in pristine, unopened condition. What was once a simple consumer device has become a highly valuable artifact of technological history.
When Design Becomes Conversation
Lisa’s collection is deeply rooted in the idea that design can transcend function and in some cases, was never meant to prioritize it in the first place. A defining example is the iconic Juicy Salif citrus juicer by Philippe Starck, produced by Alessi. While often perceived as a kitchen tool, its conception was far more conceptual.
Alessi’s Alberto Alessi had originally approached Starck to design a tray. After nearly two years without a clear direction, inspiration struck unexpectedly. While dining at his favorite Italian restaurant, Starck began sketching on a placemat as he waited for his meal. After ordering calamari, served with a lemon wedge, he found himself combining the imagery of a squid-like form with the function of a lemon juicer.
The result was not simply a tool, but a radical reimagining of one. Rather than designing for pure utility, Starck created something closer to sculpture. It is a piece meant to live on the kitchen counter as a conversation starter. In doing so, he challenged expectations around what everyday objects should look like and how they should function. It became a quintessential example of design that alters perception. Elevating something as ordinary as a lemon juicer into a work of art. For many, owning one became a quiet signal of design awareness: “you knew someone was cool if they had one sitting on their counter.” Said Lisa.
Similarly, experimental furniture pieces made from unexpected materials like carbon fiber chairs weighing just a few pounds, challenge traditional ideas of structure, comfort, and form. These works demonstrate how design can push boundaries while still serving a purpose.
Storytelling Through Objects
One of the most fascinating aspects of Lisa’s work is how she creates narrative, not just through her own art, but through the objects she collects.
A clock by Dutch designer Maarten Baas, for example, transforms time into performance art. Each minute is manually “created” by a person on video, blending craftsmanship with the passage of time in a way that feels both playful and profound.
Even her inclusion of pop-up books highlights her appreciation for overlooked artistry. These intricate creations, often priced under $30, require immense engineering, collaboration, and testing. To Lisa, they represent one of the greatest value paradoxes in design: extraordinary complexity at an accessible price.
A Living, Evolving Collection
Unlike traditional collections that remain static, Lisa’s is constantly evolving. She rotates pieces, adapts displays, and reinterprets how objects are experienced in response to her audience. Whether hosting students, collectors, or fellow creatives, her goal is the same: to spark curiosity and shift perspective. At its core, her collection highlights the designs that define an era, those that break boundaries, pioneer new materials and processes, and offer thoughtful solutions for everyday living.
Lisa S. Roberts and the Art of Process and Precision
While her collection captures innovation, Lisa’s own artistic practice reflects a deeply personal exploration of creativity.
Beyond collecting, Lisa is also an artist whose work in cut paper is as meticulous as it is expressive. Each piece evolves through layers of color, texture, and intuition. For her architectural and interior works, each piece begins with a reference image, which she then transforms through layers of color, composition, and interpretation. Her abstract works, however, begin entirely differently. They are guided not by imagery, but by color itself.
Color is the starting point, the language, and the driving force.
Her process is both meticulous and instinctive. While constructing a piece can take dozens of hours, the most critical stage is color selection. It is a moment that requires complete focus. No distractions, no noise, just an intuitive understanding of how colors interact, contrast and come alive together. For Lisa, color isn’t just visual, it’s experiential.
This duality of precision and instinct, is what gives her work its depth. From a distance, her work feels bold and cohesive. Up close, it reveals intricate layers, subtle variations, and a complexity that unfolds over time.
The Human Element in a Digital Age
As conversations around AI and automation grow louder, Lisa offers a grounded perspective. While she acknowledges the power of tools like artificial intelligence, she believes there is something inherently human that cannot be replicated.
Design, to her, is not just about output, it’s about intuition, emotion, and the way individuals experience color, texture, and form. While AI can generate ideas, it cannot fully replicate the deeply personal connection artists have with their work.
Final Thoughts
Lisa reminds us that innovation doesn’t always announce itself. Sometimes, it sits quietly in our homes, waiting to be recognized. Through her collection and her art, she captures those moments, preserving not just objects, but the ideas and breakthroughs that shape our world and in doing so, she challenges us to look a little closer at the everyday… because the future might already be here.
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