Marisa DeLuca

Hi, I am an Italian American visual artist from Oceanside, California and a fourth-year Studio major at UC San Diego. My work this quarter is a continuation of my body of work, Or No Side. Meditating on my home, Oceanside, California, and inspired by the Japanese aesthetics of Wabi-Sabi my paintings and drawings represent notions of impermanence in physical spaces, asking questions about the future of the region. By drawing attention to familiar landmarks in low-income neighborhoods, this work seeks to give recognition to overlooked populations. I attempt to elevate the everyday and discarded through the revered medium of oil paint – a medium once reserved for wealthy patrons and royalty. This body of work is interested in memory and temporality, and the melancholy feeling of loss one experiences navigating endangered urban spaces that are subject to the homogenizing force of gentrification. Since you couldn't visit me in person this year, please enjoy a virtual tour of my studio below. More work can be found at http://marisadelucastudio.com .