Jasmine Zelaya

Region: West

The subjects in my paintings are caught somewhere between rapture and unrest. The works take on lucidity, as bold patterns and textures are at play, resulting in a marriage of color study and portraiture. In my studio practice, I enjoy the juxtaposition of controlled mark-making against the organic swell and undulations of watercolor as it takes form.

My art is influenced by my experience as a woman of color, and it explores themes of racial, social, and gender divides. I am inspired by vintage textiles as well as fashion and music. I am interested in insider-versus-outsider and the symbiotic effect that pop culture has on identity when it strays from tradition.