As we left the noise of Williamsburg, the image of Zlota stayed with us: a silhouette against a massive white canvas, a palette knife in one hand, coffee in the other. In an age of AI-generated art and fleeting attention spans, stands as a defiant witness to the analog soul.
Let’s start at the beginning. A lot of our readers want to know: When did you first realize you were an artist?
For more information on upcoming exhibitions and release dates for the Lucid Ruins catalog, visit her representation page at [Gagosian.com]. To see exclusive behind-the-scenes studio shots from this interview, follow our magazine on Instagram. olivia zlota interview
This honesty is refreshing. In an era of digital art and NFTs, Zlota remains a fierce defender of the physical. She admits to owning a smartphone "only under duress" and keeps a flip phone for calls. "The algorithm wants you to scroll past pain quickly," she says. "I want you to stand in front of a canvas until your feet hurt." No Olivia Zlota interview would be complete without discussing her breakout series, The Orphan Cycle (2022-2023). The series, a collection of 14 massive canvases depicting solitary figures in liminal spaces (bus stations, motel lobbies, laundromats at 2 AM), catapulted her into the global spotlight.
"They would say: You are not late. You are not behind. The masterpiece you are afraid to start is still waiting for you. But you have to bleed first. " As we left the noise of Williamsburg, the
“Sorry for the mess,” she said, clearing a pile of sketchbooks from a wooden stool. “I always tell my gallerist that a clean studio is a sign of a sterile imagination.”
She points to a recent, unfinished piece in the corner. It shows a young girl standing in a flooded living room, holding a record player above her head like an offering. A lot of our readers want to know:
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Olivia Zlota interview, artist Olivia Zlota, contemporary painting, The Orphan Cycle, studio visit, art world insights.