This month we are thrilled to introduce a wonderful new artist to the gallery, ‘Aliza & Her Monsters’, (by which she and her art is known), captures animal life with whimsy and delight. Describing the inspiration for her art and this show titled “Lost & Found” she writes:
Not all who wander are lost. I paint the creatures that have wandered through my heart and mind my whole life. The animals, my monsters, represent the wild hearted spirit within us all. Serving as analogues for feelings within stories, these creatures help me traverse the flotsam and jetsam of my childhood, telling my own stories and even offering an escape from the trappings we sometimes create for ourselves.
Understood in the context of my lived experience, painting is the getaway from the chaos around me. After people, animals are a relief; in no small way. In this show, you can trace the progression of my paintings over time in response to this. Initially, before 2020, I mostly painted single subjects. During the pandemic, I felt compelled to bring my creatures together within each piece to wordlessly speak to the human need for healing, hope and above all, connection. All cannot be lost when there is still so much to be found.