A Studio Visit with Zoe Alameda: Escapism Meets Materiality

Visiting Zoe Alameda’s studio is like stepping into an experimental lab where art materials, techniques, and personal narratives intersect. Alameda, who recently graduated with her BFA from USC, takes a refreshingly exploratory approach to her work, combining painting, laser prints, fabric, and sculpture to create pieces that challenge and expand traditional definitions of art.

In progress shot of “So Strong I Could Lift the Weight of This Burden) courtesy of the artist

The Art of Balance: Navigating the In-Between

Alameda’s practice thrives in the dynamic tension of the middle ground, where dualities converge and reveal their complexities. Her work is not about choosing sides but the interplay between them—push and pull, excess and emptiness, escape and entrapment. Each piece becomes a negotiation, where seemingly opposing forces coexist, challenge, and inform one another.

This nuanced approach is evident in her recent acrylic works on wood panels, where the surfaces oscillate between densely layered textures and moments of quiet restraint. “I’m drawn to the idea that neither extreme tells the whole story,” she reflects. “It’s the space between them where things get interesting.”

Themes of inside and out, artificial and authentic, weave through Alameda’s work, speaking to a broader search for balance. Her pieces often suggest spaces that are neither fully enclosed nor entirely open, inviting viewers to reflect on their thresholds—moments where they feel grounded and untethered.

For Alameda, this exploration mirrors her experience of Los Angeles, a city where reality and illusion blend seamlessly. “Living here feels like a constant negotiation of contrasts,” she says. “There’s something fascinating about embracing both and finding your place within that tension.”

This navigation of extremes—the push and pull, the give and take—imbues her practice with emotional resonance, inviting viewers to consider the liminal spaces in their own lives.

A photo of Zoe’s studio wall

Material Experiments and Fabric Work

The studio is a treasure trove of diverse materials: acrylic paints, laser-printed images, silk-screen frames, and piles of fabric waiting to be transformed. Lately, Alameda has been focusing on fabric-based projects, experimenting with silk-screened designs and wearable art. “Right now, I’m in the mode of making clothes,” she says, pointing to a stack of hand-printed shirts.

While painting remains a significant part of her practice, Alameda’s recent fabric work highlights her interest in texture and tactility. These pieces blur the lines between fine art and functional design, showcasing her ability to adapt materials in unexpected ways.

A photo of Zoe’s studio wall

Resin, Relics, and “Cursed Images”

Among the studio’s standout pieces are her resin sculptures, some of which incorporate silicon, ink, and even tattoo-like techniques. One piece, described as “ancient yet familiar,” exemplifies her fascination with creating objects that feel both relic-like and futuristic.

Alameda’s imagery often draws from what she calls “cursed images”—visuals that feel both real and surreal, unsettling yet captivating. For example, a laser-printed collage featuring zoomed-in shots of her own hands evokes a sense of intimacy and distortion, reflecting her interest in bodily forms and digital aesthetics.

The Intersection of Meme Culture and Art

While meme culture influenced her earlier works, Alameda admits she’s moving beyond it. “I think meme paintings have become a big thing, but I’m trying to find language that extends beyond that,” she explains. Her current focus is on pushing material boundaries, exploring how techniques like layering laser prints or embedding images in resin can create new visual languages.

Waiting is a Death Sentence 78” x 66” Laser prints, tar gel, plastisol on canvas, 2024

Looking Ahead: Residencies and the Five-Year Plan

Like many recent graduates, Alameda is navigating the post-college art world with a mix of excitement and apprehension. She’s currently applying for art residencies and planning a future that includes an MFA and, perhaps, a temporary move away from LA. “I love LA, but I feel like I need to experience something else,” she says.

For now, her focus is on refining her practice, embracing the DIY spirit, and continuing to experiment with materials and techniques. Whether she’s layering laser prints on wood panels, creating wearable art, or exploring resin as a sculptural medium, Zoe Alameda’s work embodies a restless curiosity and a commitment to artistic growth.

Her studio may be filled with unfinished pieces, experimental molds, and fragments of inspiration, but it’s clear that each element is part of a larger narrative—one that promises to evolve in surprising and impactful ways.