In Lisa Alonzo's candy colored confections, heavy with thick frosting, shiny glazes and obsessive decoration, the destructive nature of the object is subverted in its seductive presentation. The Artist's unique visual language juxtaposes desire, enticement, and abundance through her medium with a more threatening side of contemporary culture through her subject matter. In Vanilla Scented Sovereignty, the realities behind her whip cream coated dream world become even more poignant by our enticing introduction to them; Alonzo's works appear to be made of sugary sweet frosted cake, but in actuality they are made of acrylic plastic paint. Perhaps uncomfortably pertinent and self obvious, there is the sense of a society skeptical of its own passions, encumbered by excess and overconsumption. Alonzo emphasizes that in this age of rapidly advancing technology, it is becoming ever more difficult to decipher what is real and what is not - even the definition of these terms seems to have become malleable. It is clear even to the casual observer the high importance Alonzo places on authenticity when it comes to engaging her audience.

In Vanilla Scented Sovereignty, the Artist explores how our initial acquaintance with an object or symbol can alter it's perceived meaning. Using imagery sourced strictly from mass media, Alonzo aims to explore the relationship of these images, common in pop culture, and the way they are consumed within our society. Take for example the line between fact and supposition that is easily blurred and manipulated by an all encompassing, ever present mass media driven society. 24 hour news cycles must be filled; beautiful and well-coiffed pitchmen soft peddle serious information and misdirect with gossip and rumor. Technology addiction and virtual reality runs rampant over real human connection, relation and touch.

To create her paintings, Alonzo uses acrylic medium applied to the canvas in dots of pure prismatic color employing various pastry tips normally reserved for decorating cakes. This technique mimics the pixels found in the original images and further plays into the idea that what our eyes see may not be an authentic reality and illustrates how traditional visual cues can no longer be trusted.

Guns, grenades and armored vehicles, along with genetically modified foods, dubious energy drinks, a giant donut and a big mac may all be destroyers of humankind, yet some we may not recognize as such. The most visually appealing foods tend to contain the most synthetic and harmful additives, seemingly pristine bottled water contains arsenic, salt and fat are intentionally added to cause food addiction. War and it's accoutrements have long been the fodder of artist's work; Alonzo poses the question to the viewer: which (type of) war is the most deadly and insidious? The world of today is rife with illusions.

Vanilla Scented Sovereignty is the Artist's first solo exhibition.