Loz and art have been in a relationship since forever: exploring galleries, training herself, and attempting to learn new skills. However, the fruition of Loz’s art career began only in early 2020. “I was working for a television company when I started my pill art collection entitled ‘Get Well Soon’. I was posting my art online, and people began to message me asking to purchase my art.” From there, Loz decided to try and sell some of her work for the first time. Though Loz admits to having some general graphic design experience from college, she’s largely a self-taught artist.
The initial idea for the “Get Well Soon” collection came from Loz’s personal interest in philosophy. Specifically, Loz took interest in a man named Arthur Schopenhauer; a humorously morbid German philosopher from the 1800s who coined the concept that the only possible way to temporarily suspend the suffering of the human condition, is to experience art. Loz wanted to modernize Schopenhauer’s diction within this notion of temporarily suspending suffering. How do we temporarily suspend suffering in the 21st century? “My brain immediately went to pills,” says Loz, “in North America, if we have a cramp, we take a pill. Headache? Pill.” 21st-century suffering is quickly condemned by the evil anti-hero and its root cause is consequently then brushed right over. Whilst Schopenhauer’s ideology was the launching pad for the “Get Well Soon” collection, as art always does, this project has come to have a mind of its own. Although Loz presented her work at a certain angle, the masses have consumed, and taken meaning in many, various and amazing directions. “Pills are incredibly personal for viewers, and that’s honestly my favorite part about this particular collection.” For somebody struggling with addiction, looking at this collection may take them through their journey, realize where they once were, and how far they have come. For somebody with a sort of sickness or chronic pain, the work can normalize the mundane medicinal realities of everyday life.
The reality of creating the “Get Well Soon” collection, has a much merrier tone. To set the scene; Loz is in her studio, complete with an air purifying system and fume box. There she is sanding, woodworking, casting , and mindlessly streaming RuPaul’s Drag Race in the background (fun fact; there was a time when Loz once interned at Rupaul’s Drag Race!). But the actual construction process of a signature Loz City piece involves not only the construction and creation of the pills but the improvisational element that the Loz City recycling system brings to the table. “Initially my collection began with plain squares of pills repeating over and over, for example, an entirely pink square made of Benadryl pills.” These early pieces were largely influenced by whatever pills Loz could get her hands on, and the bold, brand-specific colors of those pills. Now, as a product of Loz’s over-the-counter pill recycling program, there have been implications along the creative process. “People send me their expired over-the-counter pills, old Advil bottles, etc. I create a lot of my newer pieces with these pill donations; I don’t choose the pills anymore, they choose me!” Loz does receive a lot of basic white pills through her recycling program, but she spray paints or dyes them – so nothing goes to waste. Loz’s pill donation program allows her to eliminate waste while creating beauty.
If censorship is a fear of art, then Loz City surely gave Instagram a fright. The ruling power’s response was a direct backlash on her artistic freedom, all summarized by Loz’s Instagram stories titularly; “Birth control is too risky for IG”.
“I’ve been dealing with this since I began putting my art on the internet. Originally the problem was with TikTok, almost every video I would post would get taken down, and then that spilled onto Instagram as I gained followers.” People were more than likely misunderstanding Loz’s pill art, or perhaps making assumptions about her intentions as an artist. Good art can often be controversial, so it’s no surprise that Loz City’s controversial art has caught the attention of art lovers and art-critics alike. However, in terms of social media algorithms, and building a career, censorship most definitely sucks. “My livelihood is definitely impacted by art censorship. I have even begun to self censor my posts, so I’m not posting the content I would like to or that I used to post, for fear of being reported or taken down.” Loz City previously was involved with the National Coalition Against Art Censorship, and their “Don’t Delete Art ” Digital Gallery for previously censored works on social media. Art censorship can be debilitating for artists, but it’s the unfortunate reality of social media today.
Not only is eliminating censorship of art on social media essential in supporting growing artists, but also because, as Loz says, “art inspires art”.
“Galleries, fellow artists, museums, movies (specifically documentaries) and the street art community are where I find continual inspiration, and where I break through any creative blocks,” says Loz. As stated previously, Loz also finds great interest in both philosophy and psychology. These themes find themselves blasting podcasts in her earbuds and eventually make way to present themselves within her work.
Beyond the artistic side of Loz’s career comes a woman running her own business, in an industry notoriously not for the faint of heart. “As a woman, I’ve disappointingly found almost all of my success after going mostly anonymous on social media. It’s hard to ignore the unfortunate reality of the male-dominated art industry— us female artists have to work harder to be as respected as male artists.” Loz gave the example of art made with unconventional materials, like many women artists who create crochet or textile art. Women are often faced with the ignorance that their work is a hobby, and not high art. The transition from low to high art is tough for anyone, unfortunately, but specifically targets its toll toward women in art.
Loz has come a long way since 2020, but she hopes to continue gaining respect in the art industry. “I would love to be featured in a contemporary art museum one day. But if I had to pick the one true goal, it would be to make people think,” says Loz. “If I start a conversation with my art, I’ve done my job as an artist.”
For more LOZ CITY visit the site lozcity.com or checkout @lozcity on Instagram.
