20260416-007_web
Nostalgia
Zoe Murata
Digital, 10 x 17.5 in.
Nostalgia explores the “sad pleasure” of homesickness, depicting a figure caught between a disorganized reality and an illuminated memory. Using Procreate’s digital layering, the piece creates intense contrast: warm, “Color Dodge” glows emanate from childhood silhouettes, while the surrounding room remains dark and cluttered with symbols of neglect, like dead plants and discarded boxes. The artist used a monochromatic underpainting to anchor these values, eventually reflecting the “imagined” light onto the subject’s face. This visual split represents the power of place, illustrating how internal longing can manifest as physical symbols that both comfort and isolate the individual from their current environment.
20260417-009_web
Lost in Reverie
Zoe Murata
Digital, 11 x 15 in.
Lost in Reverie explores the idealization of nostalgia, where selective memory filters out hardship to leave only warmth. Set in an abandoned but pristine city, the piece uses vibrant overgrowth and flooding to mark the passage of time against “perfect” architecture. The figure in the boat symbolizes viewing childhood through rose-colored glasses, transforming the environment into a visual manifestation of a simpler past. Using a “Spider-Verse” inspired digital style—merging 3D forms with expressive, comic-like textures—the work reflects how our identities and memories color our perception of reality, inviting viewers to find comfort in their own idealized histories.
Head in the Clouds
Head in the Clouds
Zoe Murata
Acrylic, 16 x 20 in.
Head in the Clouds explores how a child’s imagination and future aspirations permeate their environment. Using acrylic paint on a large scale, the piece depicts a young child dressed as a pilot, entirely engulfed by the massive shadow of a plane overhead. This shadow serves as a visual manifestation of internal dreams reflected externally. By submerging the figure in shadow, the work symbolizes a unification of the self and the environment, emphasizing that our desires shape the world we perceive. The expressive, textured brushwork captures a sense of playfulness, inviting the audience to witness the immense power of a child’s vision.