Alysha Rocca

HELLO!! My name is ALYSHA, I am a Vaughan-born artist, who studied in Toronto at OCAD University, earning a BFA in Drawing and Painting. My creative practice involves an emphasis on textiles, while still labeling my work as paintings. They are paintings to me because I believe that materials are tools to paint with. I try to be a sustainable artist in my practice by using recycled materials or found objects. Covid-19 has impacted my practice by pushing me to use recycled materials because I was unable to go purchase new materials in-store, as the arts were deemed "nonessential." But art is ESSENTIAL, art is NOT DEAD, and art is needed to transform and rebuild our communities. During the first lockdown of Covid-19, I asked my friends and family to donate their materials to me and I was overwhelmed by the amount of support and materials that were donated. Textiles have become a major factor in my work; I try to connect with my generational history, as my Nonna was a seamstress in Italy. I found that fabric was very forgiving and I wanted to be like fabric: fluid, forgiving, and malleable. I am now trying to make a ZERO WASTE practice by reducing, reusing, and recycling materials. All works are an eco-friendly medley of fine art, craft art, and sustainable art.