Biography
My name is Alycia Shiann. I am a 24 year old artist based in Long Beach, CA specializing in acrylic, oil, and colored pencil artwork. I grew up in the town of Manteca, California. Throughout school, I was always trying to keep up with my peers by taking multiple science and math classes even though I struggled tremendously in them. I thought that going down a STEM path was the only way to have a successful life. Going in to my junior year of high school, I was placed in an Intro to Art class. This class was my 5th choice for an elective and I had no intention of actually trying very hard, but it was in this classroom that I would ultimately change my career path and find my life's purpose. As soon as I started working on the first project, I immediately fell in love with drawing. My art class was the only place where I felt comfortable to share my ideas and could create anything I wanted. Going in to my senior year, I would constantly carry around my sketchbook and new pieces that I was working on. When my teacher submitted my work for the school district art show, I won second place in all of the school district and it was at that moment that I knew I had to be an artist.
After graduating high school, I moved to Fullerton, CA to attend California State University, Fullerton (CSUF). I began painting celebrity portraits during the pandemic and although I was making quick money with commissions, I didn't feel fulfilled and felt that the artwork never really represented me. I was struggling to find my artistic style and I no longer created art for myself. I quickly started to resent my artwork, the one thing that I genuinely loved doing. It wasn't until my last year of school that I realized my own thoughts and experiences were meant to be displayed through my art. Throughout my time at CSUF, I learned who I was as a person and as an artist. In 2023, I graduated from CSUF with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic design.
On top of pursuing my visual art career, I am currently the graphic designer for the Brett Fonfa Foundation (BFF). The BFF gives underrepresented visual artists in the Los Angeles area the opportunity to exhibit their art and provide resources to artists and students of all backgrounds.
My artwork represents the correlation between humanity and nature through symbolism, human experiences, and vibrant colors. No matter the latest headline, unhinged politician, or newest trend, the one thing that we as humans should prioritize for a better future is our planet Earth. Tackling the issue of climate change should be humanity's top priority. Despite different backgrounds, opinions, and cultures, we are all connected on this one planet in our enormous solar system. I encourage those caught up in the day-to-day to take a step back and focus our attention on restoring our home planet and immersing ourselves in nature for our overall health. By depicting colorful and surrealist scenes, my goal as an artist is to help my audiences understand how the human experience and nature are connected in hopes that it will force people to rethink their priorities and give them a sense of hope in a world that so often only reports misery and despair.
I am fortunate enough to have exhibited my artwork in multiple group shows across the US including Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. My goal as an artist is to bring beauty and awareness to the importance of our planet as well as share human experiences with my audience to remind them that no matter what they are going through, they are never alone. It is important for us all to realize that we are not perfect and we should fully embrace who we are and love ourselves whole heartedly. Everyone deserves to live a beautiful life and I know that my art will contribute to that.
- Alycia Shiann