Isabelle Alford-Lago is from Santa Cruz, CA. She received her BA in painting from University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where she currently lives and works. Alford-Lago developed an earlier body of work based on simplied forms of Trulli architecture from the Italian region of Apulia. Her more recent work, although still done in oils, changed direction from abstract to figurative - humanized gorilla portraits. Her Gorillas have evolved into a prolific body of paintings. They can be seen in galleries and on public walls in the streets. Upcoming shows and events are listed on her fanpage and you can get in touch here.

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STATEMENT

"The Gorillas are a satirical representation of classic portraiture, using an unlikely subject to portray real human emotion and individualized presence. What started as small sketches of a primitive character I created underwent a transformation into large-scale oil paintings. With oils I can achieve tangibility and texture by which the figure protrudes into a more intimate proximity with the viewer.

This series mimics both historical and contemporary portraiture. In my work, 'The Bathers,' I borrow from a historical theme in art of nudes bathing. The Gorilla acts as the sitter and becomes humanized through its deliberate self-awareness. I am not painting monsters or horses. The Gorillas can take on both human form and human emotion. Each work embodies a tone, whether it be moodiness or sexiness. These characteristics are unexpected and add humor to what is classically a dramatic setting.

The Gorillas are also anonymous. They are purely imagined and therefore free to one’s own interpretation."

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RESUME [PDF]