Risa (Ri) Ayala
Lagrimas Azules (Blue Tears), 2026
Mixed media
My work investigates the boundary between the internal and external world. Using a mix of traditional and digital painting methods alongside accessible common materials, I bring my vision to life through intuitive-based processes. Original fantasy creatures act as vessels for personal emotion and psychological states. Strange humanoid figures inhabit familiar everyday environments, creating a dialogue between the ordinary and the uncanny. The contrast found in my work generates a mood that can feel both unsettling and comforting. Lagrimas Azules (Blue Tears) is inspired by the ghostly spirit from Latin American folklore, La Llorona. The classic features of the spirit such as long hair and a white dress are distorted and strewn through a lens of surrealism.
About:
Risa Ayala is a mixed media artist based in Dallas, Texas. Currently a senior majoring in Drawing & Painting at UNT, her work investigates complex intuitive narratives through a surrealist dreamy lens, pulling from her personal relationship to identity and spirituality. In her most recent work, she is currently exploring a balance between 2D and 3D. Her work has received Best in Show recognition at Austin College and has previously been exhibited at The Eclectika and Collin College. Ayala has also been featured in an artist talk at Meow Wolf Grapevine, where she has additionally worked on several internal art projects.
Instagram: @Mercuryillusion