Arielle Zamora in 'Elevations'

Inspired by horizon lines, overlapping planes of architecture, and the natural and constructed environment, Arielle’s paintings translate these structures into gridded compositions that confound the boundary between landscape and facade. Arielle begins these paintings by applying gypsum-based joint compound and oil paint over wooden panels. The surface is then sanded and carved with an etching tool, creating recessed channels that reveal the layers below. Finally, the work is buffed with cold wax medium, sealing the surface with a matte luster. This new body of work brings architecture and nature into conversation, probing their inseparability despite their apparent opposition. The paintings reference the rhythmic patterns of repeated building windows, as well as the movement of the ocean's surface. Architecture’s literal ability to reflect nature becomes another point of inspiration, particularly the way skyscraper facades mirror the sky. In turn, organic forms take on a new solidity through comparison, their repeating structures becoming cityscapes in their own right. Explore more here.

This new collection of work has been a blending and meeting of architecture and the landscape. I’m often unable to separate the two elements, as a building with windows repeating on and on is so much like the movement of the ocean’s surface repeating on and on, and within each one I see the other.

Arielle Zamora

When I view natural elements, I see them broken down and distilled into repeated forms in my mind's eye, transcribed into a city scape or the structural elements of a building. Words like pediment, lintel, sash and cornice are simply laminated over cliff, horizon, sea shore, and rock. Each painting is of a building. Each painting is of nature.

Arielle Zamora