Oro Valley Library invites you to an exhibit by local artist Angela Soliz, on display until August 31, 2025.
Artist Statement:
Color is my love language. With every stroke of thick acrylic paint, the goal is to capture the essence and the energy of ecstatic joy.I find that to feel ecstatically safe, joyful and happy takes courage. They are the feelings of liberation, after all, and when we imagine, even for a moment, that we are free and boundless, that wide open expanse can be scary. Scarcity and limitation are familiar. What I feared most was letting out all this bright color, this bliss, these outrageous inner landscapes and surrealist flowers- how dare I speak of happiness in the midst of devastation, poverty, hate and all the other awful things the news reminds us of. Yet how dare I not? How dare I know what the feeling of ecstatic joy is and not share it? Not help people remember it for themselves?
And so I began to face wonder, joy, radical acceptance and all the intense high sensation emotions that are often avoided and subjugated, with as much courage as I could find.
I don't pre-plan my paintings, it’s more about what develops as I get lost in a delicious sea of color and thick acrylic paint. My aesthetic is heavily influenced by my Chicano heritage, my design education and the genre of magical realism.
I start with a blank canvas and a selection of colors that have chosen to be there. Then I follow my intution, I follow the color with anticipation. The composition is revealed one stroke at a time. I am always asking inward for each next choice and placement and shape. There is no wrong answer, no wrong move. Instead, it is a constant practice of staying curious, delighted and full of wonder in the present moment.
I like to think each painting carries the energetic vibration of this joy and I hope that my paintings may remind you (the viewer) of your own child-like wonder, courage, inner divinity and your right to dignity. So often social justice centers around winning rights and stopping discrimination, but I think we also need to remember the freedom we already have inside of us.
Artist Bio:
Angela Soliz is a Chicana fine artist devoted to helping people uncover who they are, why they’re here, and how to live and lead from a deep sense of aligned identity.As an artist, her paintings contribute to the project of human dignity through the exploration of self-liberation. Her focus is on creating vibrant energetic work that celebrates life, nature and imagination.
With over a decade of experience in design and a multidisciplinary background spanning anthropology, psychology, philosophy, communications, art history, social justice, and spiritual traditions, Angela brings a grounded, liberatory approach to fine art and personal development.
At the heart of her work is the belief that expression is an inside job—that identity is not constructed through external trends, but uncovered through truth-telling, courage, and self-belonging. Whether working with individuals, organizations, or creatives, Angela’s focus is helping people build resilient identities and brands from the heart outward—guided by purpose, rooted in story, and powered by inner strength.
With a degree from the University of Arizona and trauma-informed teaching trainings from G.L.S.E.N., ADL, and Free Arts Arizona, Angela approaches every space with a commitment to safety, depth, and transformation.
Also, a certified lead climber and currently pursuing a professional Single Pitch Instructor certification with the American Mountain Guide Association, she practices what it means to climb—with intention, grit, and trust. Whether you’re scaling a cliff face or building a brand, her message is clear, this life is what you make it.
Images courtesy of the artist
