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.