7x7x7 Series: Liz Zhang
Published on September 23, 2019. Interview by 2019 Summer Intern, Caroline Carr Grant. Liz Zhang is a visual artist living in Charlottesville. Her solo exhibit, ECHOES, will be on view at Welcome Gallery from October 4-25, 2019. Liz is our fourth featured 2019 artist in our fourth 7x7x7 Series, which asks 7 questions to 7 Charlottesville artists and published once a week for 7 weeks.
Images courtesy of the artist
If you had a free afternoon in Charlottesville what would you do or where would you go?
I would love to take some board games and head to the Tea Bazar. It’s so nice to chill there and drink tea.
Describe your artistic work in 7 words.
Playing with narrative; thinking about uncanny, familiar.
Who or what inspires your current work?
Thinking about how people interact and I have also been thinking about material a lot. About paper and fabric, thinking about plants and kudzu.
Consider one piece you’re working on right now. Give us a snippet of your routine—from start to finish, what goes into making it?
I draw a lot in my sketchbook and really think about the times I have been people interacting in an interesting way. I will then go back and think about the best medium or form for it to take. The best medium to exhibit these interactions through.
Images courtesy of the artist
What have you learned about yourself as a person through the experience of making art?
I’ve figured out what I like and what is interesting to me and what makes me stop and pause. Art has made me pay attention more.
What would you like to see happen in Charlottesville to better support artists in our community?
Definitely studio space. I also think it would be great if there where more events relating to art like art fairs and print exchanges. Imagine having an art book fair!
What is currently on your studio/work desk?
Handmade paper and other paper scraps. There is an old zinc plate that I am stripping to make a new etching with. Paper to bind books and books that I have made.
The opinions expressed in this interview are solely those of the artist and do not necessarily represent the policies or positions of NCAI.
LizZhang is a painter and printmaker based in Charlottesville, Virginia. She is currently an Aunspaugh Fifth-Year Fellow at the University of Virginia, where she recently received her BA in Studio Art.