Painting Gallery

"Bicoastal" Acrylic on Canvas, 4'x4', 2022, Z. Fondanarosa and Milo Fondanarosa

Over the summer in 2022 my brother and I decided to collaborate on this huge abstract painting combining our two personality in paint. This was one of the last activities we were able to do together before I moved back to the west coast from the east. It was made knowing we would not be able to collaborate on something as tangible as this again for quite some time.

Milo's work can be found here

"Okay, Eve," Acrylic, Gouache, and Gold on Canvas, 16"x20", 2022, Z. Fondanarosa

“Nancy, Jack, and the Redditors” Acrylic, Gouache, and Marker on Canvas, 16”x20”, 2022, Z. Fondanarosa

"One Of Hades's Boys"

Acrylic, embroidery, beading with glass and garnet, on Denim Jacket, US Men's M, 2020-2021

The Elements ✪  

This body of work is from the summer semester I spent at the Ox-Bow school of art in Michigan, Summer 2018. This was from a painting class called "Painting Turned on its Head" taught by the lovely Paula Wilson. All works are oil paintings with various elements of nature embedded in them on varied surfaces. 

Artist statement: 
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A pentacle has five points which represent the five elements, fire, air, water, earth, and spirit. These base elements are very important in both the way we interact with the world and form ourselves. I spent a month in a landscape that allowed for me to become closer to these elements. In these paintings I have formed the elements of the landscape into personified figures that depict their personalities. These beings were depicted in the way that they manifested to me on my journey rather than the way they would typically be thought of.

Here fire was blue and strong and brought life and construction though its bright fury. Here air was calm and fragrant, bringing humming birds and the sound of sleep. Here water brought death but also fruit and life. Here earth brought mischief, creation and friendship. And here spirit brought something without words, like an ice cold fear but also tears that lingered from joy.

The five paintings were presented with a sixth work, the artists themselves. While these works were based heavily on nature it was important to keep in mind that the human is also a part of nature for we are all animals. And like the human cannot be separated from nature the artist also cannot be separated from the art. My hands are just as a part of the painting as the paint is.

The Installation & Performance  

Work in Progress 

When Will it Be Okay

Picture
"Dullahan River Decay (you never call me)" Acrylic, Fake Blood, Embroidery, Gold Dust, on Unstretched Raw Canvas, 3’6” x 6’3”, 2018
Picture
"Resolution" Acrylic, Gold Dust, on Unstretched Raw Canvas, 10’ x 4’9”, 2017
I Just Want Resolution

Grip onto me with your lust
If my friendship is true then I'll let you take my love
If I say, "I love you" break my bones 
Snap my wrists covered in blood
Though my knuckles are bleeding this sap is not innocent 
And though I wish to tear your world apart with my teeth 
It's sadly ironic it's you who's come to reap what I have left

Grip my neck as hard as you can 
Crush my hopes and dreams
Crush my body, just like flowers beneath your rough hands 
And even as my blood pools around me I'm let to believe
Oh god, you're not the one killing me
But how can that be when you're breathing 
And I'm left faithless 
If I'm the victim then why do I feel like the villain?
I'm drowning but you keep telling me it's the other way around
But why aren't you struggling?
Why are you laughing at the tears in my eyes as I gasp for air?
I came here for solace but I was given nothing but bad memories 
And was told to make something of them 
And instead of solidarity I received pity 
There is no resolution in drowning in your agony 
There is no solace in picking at the scab that will never heal 
And so, I chose to sleep with my demons
Claws and teeth will comfort me 
Since your soft flesh only cut me
And I will hold them close to me when I dream of you
Because I know they will always be there to keep me safe 
And I know they will always tell the truth
If humans are inherently evil what is a hell hound to me or you 
You've beat all the good left in me
And I'm soon doomed to repeat your blasphemy 
This is not resolution 
If I have to shake the hands that tore my dreams right out from my scalp
There is no such thing as feeling resolved
When all you know is the crimes of Gods 
Picture
"Don’t Touch Me (ode to her)" Acrylic, Fake Blood, Makeup, Embroidery, on Unstretched Raw Canvas, 4’9” x 6’5”, 2016
Picture
“Cicadas” Mixed Media on Unstretched Raw Canvas, 5’x7’, 2019-2021
This is the last and final painting for this series (2016-2021)

Mixed media used: cotton canvas, handmade natural organic dyes (coffee, turmeric, pomegranate, cactus pear, and eggplant), clear gesso, acrylic paint, handmade turmeric and sunflower paint, glass bead work (vintage uranium glass beads, glass seas beads, vintage had made Indian mold beads, muslin, steel wire, thread, safety pins)
Picture
"Guilty In Love" Acrylic on Dyed Cotton and Cardboard, 2021