About the Artist

ABOUT ME

When I was a teen, I found the punk and goth subcultures in my native country of Brazil. The freedom to express one’s self through clothes, art, and makeup took hold as I discovered David Bowie, Andy Warhol, Salvador Dali, and Leigh Bowery. I began experimenting with makeup, using my face as a canvas and transforming my body into works of art that mirrored the icons who inspire me. My looks took to the stage, and I became a well known avant-garde drag performer. 

The stage was not enough. I wanted my creations immortalized, so I started taking self-portraits and shared them with friends and on social media. My portraits grabbed the attention of curators all over the world, and they included them in shows, campaigns, and galleries in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Madrid, Paris, Amsterdam, Belfast, San Francisco, and New York.

 In 2013, I moved to Oakland, CA. Navigating the a new country as an immigrant Latinx artist took all of my attention, and I focused on my career and personal life. I felt adrift. I needed inspiration. 

I started working with queer and immigrant youth who were searching for themselves and representations of who they could be. My artistic practice reignited, and I realized my art was more than the paint on my face, the costumes I wore, and the photos I took. My art is a journey into self discovery and self love, and it can be used to inspire others, letting them know that they are worthy and loved and their own masterpiece. 

Now, my work takes a critical view of social and cultural issues. I deconstruct the various dimensions of gender and propose a conversation on identity, prejudice, racial, and sexual differences. 

My name is Alisson Gothz. I am an international artist who bridges diasporas and icons.

And you are the artist of your own life.