Alyssa Gonzales

Artist Statement: 

A majority of my artwork derives from the clarity felt after depression or tough situations. I find myself having to fully express my anger, rage, or sadness in all of its glory in order to find peace of mind. Putting these feelings into art allows me to close a chapter with myself while still being able to reflect on traumatic situations with a more tranquil outlook. I am forever finding the beauty in the most passionate and raw versions of myself even if they aren’t the prettiest. Rather than painting the calm after the storm, why not the storm itself?

“Who R U” took inspiration from Alice in Wonderland. During this time, I was definitely losing my sense of self and started to compare myself to others. In Lewis Caroll’s novel “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” Alice experiences a type of ego death where she is no longer able to tell the difference between herself and her peers as she enters wonderland. Of course, the iconic scene of the caterpillar smoking was the first thing that came to mind when I captured this portrait on my camera, as the smoke took the shape of a question mark.