The first work of Aida’s I ever saw was a carefully-crafted clay sculpture of a lamb wearing a ring of flowers. That piece, like much of her early work, was rooted in a folkloric narrative bound to her identity and personal history. Through her work, Aida is tracing what it means to be a Mexican artist work- ing and living in California, and the tension between one’s natural tendency toward assimilation, alongside the essential need to preserve personal iden- tity. While that lamb piece seemed less confrontational and more mimetic than much of Aida’s work since, it demonstrated a mastery of material and a command of voice that embodies what it means to be an artist.

Over the past seven years I’ve watched as Aida’s work has encompassed everything from video installation to papermaking and taken on topics that include violence against women,immigration,and the quirky Slatter’s Court community in Davis, California. In addition to her own work Aida has also curated group exhibitions and taught classes on equity,inclusivity,and access in the arts. Her polymathic approach and dedication to her practice makes her an exciting artist to follow. — Liv Moe

Aida Lizalde graduated from the University of California, Davis in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and a Minor in Art History. Her work has been exhibited throughout California at institutions like the CCA Galleries, Chandra Cerrito Contemporary, Southern Exposure, South of Market Art Center and the Torrance Museum among others. She is a member of Axis Gallery in Sacramento and has received awards such as the Vermont Studio Center Fellowship, The Crocker Kingsley Award and The Herb Alpert Scholarship for Emerging Young Artists.

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