PLAYGROUND DETROIT presents featured artist Ouizi in a solo exhibition at Will Leather Goods on July 15, 2016.
Louise Jones’ aesthetic is inspired by folk, indigenous, and spiritual art, as well as patterns found in nature, and patterns from textiles and wallpaper. What she chooses as her main subject is often what other artists would use in the margins as she places a lot of value on the edges. Mark making and craftsmanship are critical to appreciating her work, both are important to her as she makes a lot of effort in producing harmony between line work, composition, and color. She is always working towards masterful execution in all aspects of her practice, and considers herself more of an artisan than an artist.
Ouizi’s whimsical, instantly recognizable illustrations can be found throughout Detroit’s savviest businesses and have quickly become a notable and loved part of the city’s visual landscape. Her work is featured in local independent businesses such as Antietam, Astro Coffee, Brooklyn Outdoor and Red Hook Coffee. Last summer she was selected to paint two large murals in Eastern Market for the first annual Murals In The Market Festival.
Over the past few months, Ouizi has been commissioned to travel to other cities such as Iowa City, Iowa, Richmond, Virginia, Raleigh, NC and even abroad in China to spread her flower love. Many of the bouquets and flowers she illustrates each represent various concepts; she explains regarding one of the murals in Eastern Market that:
Sakura blossoms represent femininity and daisies signify innocence. – Ouizi
About the Artist
Louise Chen, also known as Ouizi, is a second-generation Chinese American artist born in Los Angeles in 1988. She works primarily at a large scale, with subject matter rooted in ornament and design. Her practice began in Los Angeles, where she worked as an illustrator and fabricator, and later evolved into mural work after relocating to Detroit in 2013. With her highly recognizable style, her public artworks in Detroit gained widespread attention, leading to opportunities to paint across the country and occasionally abroad. She is currently experimenting with new ideas in her studio while working toward opening a cooperative creative space on Detroit’s East Side, where she resides.
