Artist Bio:
Katie Lizardo is a sophomore at UCF, majoring in Emerging Media and aiming for the Character Animation track. They love art history, literature, and film of all kinds; these inspirations culminate in works that combine fantasy and the mundane. Katie has been striving towards a career in the animation industry to become a part of the films that made her childhood and adolescence so special.
Artist Statement:
My work is largely inspired by my own experiences, whether it be childhood memories or emotions I have felt and want to express on the page. Since I was a small child, I felt isolated from my peers and even my own family, so in my work I have strived to express this otherness in a way I find accessible. My complex relationship with “girlhood” has a strong influence on my aesthetic tastes, as I often incorporate traditionally feminine, juvenile motifs like ribbons and trinkets into my artwork. By using highly saturated color palettes, I aim to convey a sense of chaos or nostalgic joy depending on the tone of the piece. I often take inspiration from film or literature, as I did with my piece based on H.C. Andersen's mermaid fairytale. While developing as an artist, I have felt it necessary to add more of my unique voice by having aspects of my identity shine through, from my outward presentation to my interests in various media.
