The art of play: Liz Ramos paints Philly pink
A twenty one year old stoops in front of a mural. She studies the canvas meticulously, her pierced nose inches away from drying paint. Occasionally, her brushstrokes are followed by a huff of air that causes her dyed bangs to float up and land wildly on her pretty face. For weeks she’s been working on this painting and, while it is nowhere near completion, she continues to chug along with laser-point focus.
This is Elizabeth Ramos: muralist, off-duty model, free spirit.
Liz’s first run-in with painting took place at the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts in 2016. Then, she had dark curly hair and sported her signature outfit — a big yellow raincoat, thrifted jeans, and some beat up Doc Martens. The person painting the mural was much more refined. The black hoodie and slicked back red hair alone were testaments to her amplified maturity. Even in high school, Elizabeth was the kind of girl who’d carried herself with proudly with grace. So secure, so slow – almost like a wise old woman.
It turns out Liz is the product of a loving community. When asked who her biggest supporters were, she couldn’t supply a solitary answer. “My mom has a college education, and my dad is an IT guy. None of my relatives ever pursued an artistsic career but a lot of them tell me their regrets of not doing that [...] my parents have always supported it because [I’ve] proved my work ethic and care for it.”
Elizabeth’s evangelical Christian family is beyond gentle and supportive to a fault, which is usually unheard of for young artists of color. Despite the uncoditional affection from her loved ones, Liz admits she feels slightly midunderstood in her career.
“I think I’m my biggest supporter because I don’t think abybody understands all of the nitty-gritty actions it requires for me to uphold my day-to-day tasks. So, I know that no
matter how much peope support me, I can only support myself. I think that’s why I work hard. I also work really hard in my arts as a compensation for what my family doesn’t know.”
“I’m like, ‘shit, I’m making money. I’m doing this’” she motioned to the mural, “you’re repeating generational trauma, and I’m living life.’”
Ramos comes short of a hedonist when it comes to the lengths she goes to enjoy life. Her FOMO-inducing Instagram stories often feature outings with friends, cute outfits, and concerts.
She reminds the no no-nonsense types that frolicking through life is something a twenty- something year old girl should do. She surrounds herself with like people: strikingly gorgeous women who like fun – always women.
The world this artist paints is shrouded in a pink, hazy fog. It’s not unusual to see blue skinned sirens or mystical goddesses splayed half-naked across her canvases. She draws inspiration from Renaissance greats and religious art, all while playing on the line between realism and surrealism. Much like the works of Dali, her paintings capture images suspended in a void. “[I want it to be] like an experience, a sensation.”
The usually quiet Ramos allows her eclectic personality to shine through her paintings.
Her art often features the faces of friends and family, allowing the audience to access the innermost parts of her life. Ramos paints across a myriad of mediums to flex her endless versatility - a trait respective to Geminis like herself. Her repitoire
is littered with collauges, pastel art, and digital prints.
The female figure stands at the center of Ramos’s art. “My style [has] motifs of femininity and girlhood.” She recalls watching Salma Hayek act in Frida on screen as a child, and mentions that Kahlo provoked her admiration for pioneering women. “Seeing her navigate the art form and do self-portraits and create these weird compositions – she was a big inspiration, even the idea of her.”
Liz paints on commission, presenting her work to fine art lovers across Pennsylvania. She attends the University of the Arts and works under muralists. She spends long hours in a cold, concrete studio to get all of it done. “Sometimes I’m like ‘hmm, how can I sit for
such a long time painting? I was never therapized; I’ve never had, like, a physchiatrist or anything so... I don’t know. Maybe something is wrong with me. I like to paint because it’s fun.”
Since her 2019 move to Philly, Elizabeth has worked as an apprentice under the prominent Philadelphia muralist, Kala Hagopian. Her most recet work is a colorful rendition of The Office logo. It will be installed in Downtown Scranton, spring 2023.
As a visionary, Liz has always aimed to involve herself in the nearest art scene. Now fully alighned with that desire, she has taken it upon herself to take avantage of city life and the opportunities it has to offer. She intends on continuing her solo work and, eventually, wants to open her own gallery.
The key to her success is simple. “Be humble”, she says,“listen to the people who know better than you.”
In spite of her unbridled talent, Ramos has never allowed
pride to interfere with her self-expansion. As an eternal learner, Liz views the world with wonder and excitement. Amid all the partying and play, Ramos says her family’s advice always echoes in her head.
“My uncle Robert [now] has seven kids. He was a boxer. But he was [also] a poet and liked theatre. He told me he got opportunities to travel and do projects, but he was scared. Now he has, like, brain damage – he’s chill, he just can’t drive – but honestly! It’s not the people who succeed I listen to but the people who have regrets. They mean it when they give advice.”
“The one man in [my] church who’s still struggling with his career always says ‘take every opportunity that presents itself to you ‘cuz you never know what your life can become.’ I want to listen to that.”
