Today we’d like to introduce you to Alisa Lozano.
Alisa, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is Alisa Lozano and I am a second-generation Mexican and Salvadoran artist, born and raised in San Diego,CA. I have been expressing myself creatively through drawing and painting since I was about 6 years old. I was influenced by television media and cartoons like Adventure Time to tell stories through comics and imagery. I didn’t grow up with siblings, so creating my own worlds and images for entertainment felt very natural.
I have also been very comfortable expressing myself through performance such as ballet, jazz, tap, gymnastics, aerial acrobatics, and colorguard. Since I didn’t talk much as a kid, I felt most connected to others through synchronized movements and performing for our friends and families.
Eventually when I reached college I decided to study Human Biology with the goals of becoming a Medical Examiner. I am extremely interested in all forms of science including psychology, anatomy, molecular biology, zoology, geology, marine biology; etc. For as long as I can remember, I love learning about the world around me! However with the global shutdown in 2020, I was faced with the decision to proceed in my studies in STEM through the severely limited and challenging methods of online-only learning, or follow my inner gut feeling. With this decision, I chose to switch my major to Fine Arts. I was working 40 hours a week, and pursuing STEM full time, but my mental health was seriously declining. If I was going to be putting so much pressure on myself, then I deserve to put my energy to what matters most deeply to me.
In the second semester of my new Art major, I took a class called 2-D Media and Design. There, I met my now dear close friend Kiki, and later introduced to her sister Cat. We naturally bonded over different hobbies including roller skating, animal studies, and fashion! Eventually, my friends introduced me to their clothing business and shared the idea of taking my art to the local flea market scene! It is from this moment in 2024, where I began selling my art starting with stickers and kandi bracelets, to now selling upcycled clothing, prints, necklaces, hair clips, pins, patches, and more! I thank these ladies for everything!! 🙂
In these 2 years I have grown so much as an artist and have been brought to so many amazing opportunities to share my art and voice. I’ve participated in multiple art galleries at SD Mesa College, Balboa Park, and Logan Ave. I feel so thankful to be able to share my creations with the local communities and provide for them a gateway for self love and expression. My audience is mostly but not exclusive to alternative, queer, and marginalized members of society; my goal is to be a beacon of safety and representation within these spaces by sharing my creations and perspectives.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
A challenging aspect would be the unpredictability of funds and income. Although working for yourself is highly glamorized and seems very accessible; I acknowledge I’m very privileged in the fact that I am allowed to live at home. My family is my biggest support system. Especially in selling your items via in-person tabeling, you cannot expect people that you will sell out of everything and make all your income back. It is also really easy to give up on yourself, at the end of the day you have to believe in yourself more than anybody else and sometimes that is the biggest challenge.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a multimedia artist! I specialize in drawing 2D, specifically graphite and charcoal are my favorite mediums to work with. I also have art in mediums including, oil paint, acrylic paint, chalk pastel, oil pastel, color pencil, digital art; even physical mediums including textile, jewelry, zines, and ceramics! There are no limits to me when it comes to visual expression!
Often times I hear words like dark, creepy, scary, surreal, different, cute, visceral, and nostalgic when describing my work. I’ve always been drawn to the contrast of feeling disturbed yet familiar and I think that shows up in almost everything I create. Similar feelings of walking through and abandoned Chuck-E-Cheese.
Some work I am most proud of would be my ceramic sculptures, one is a 14-inch tall Non-Representational sculpture that I’ve been told looks like a device from Saw, and a life size Mace almost 3 feet long. Additionally, a self portrait titled ‘Pinned’, where I drew an image of myself with push pins covering my entire face referencing a photo conceptualized by a friend @sobovsn. It’s hard to choose but those always come to mind first.
How do you think about happiness?
what makes me happy:
– quality time with friends and family
– animals; my 3 doggies, bird watching, tide pool exploring, cats sleeping in the sun, dogs smiling and running, squirrels playing in the trees
– delicious food: home cooked meals shared with family or a friendly gathering with a great meal
– music: concerts, small live shows, a solo performance, people blasting their favorite song out of their car window
– seeing senior couples in love
– feeling the ocean water and diving under the crashing waves, then laying on the hot sand while the sun rays dry me off
– going to the movies
– playing my guitar and singing to myself
These are moments where I feel life is most pure and special, when it feels like the horrors of the world hurt less.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.4L15A.bigcartel.com
- Instagram: @4L15A_
