Raised in the small mountainside town of Paradise, California, Olivia D’Orazi works in photography, mixed media, and video. Her work has been exhibited at museums & galleries in the US, Europe, and the UK including at The Royal Academy of Arts, London. She is a recipient of the Pollock-Krasner Grant and was selected by the Otis College of Art & Design to have a billboard of her work on Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles celebrating the city. Olivia’s photography is currently featured in art journals sold by Hauser & Wirth.

Specializing in ethereal dream-like imagery, Olivia uses photography to test the boundaries of reality. Through the manipulation of camera lenses and the incorporation of paint techniques, she amplifies colors and creates complex overlays of organic shapes and patterns. Her work highlights the beauty of nature and invokes nostalgia for the 1960’s and 70’s psychedelia. The resulting works have a fresh, contemporary style that honors a free-spirited lightness of being. We spoke with Olivia about her work and how she landed on her unique photographic style.

When did you start creating art?

I’ve always been a creative person and loved working on creative projects growing up but didn’t start creating art until I was studying for my second BA in 2012 at the University of the Arts, London.  I was incredibly interested in photography and loved making videos from a young age but once I started studying these subjects everything changed! I knew I was meant to follow this path in the visual arts.

How would you define your personal aesthetic?

Ethereal, Otherworldly, Modern Psychedelia.

Has your background informed your current practice?

Yes, 100%! My first BA is in Fashion Merchandising and my second is in Creative Direction. Both of these degrees were creative but focused on business as well. I believe studying business with art has allowed me to creatively grow my art as a brand. I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit, which has challenged me in my work to think outside the box. Along with my photography and video art, I also have a fashion and home décor collection.  It’s been really fun to combine my backgrounds in fashion, business, and art and create new work utilizing all three.

What have you been doing since COVID-19 began?

I have been busy working on the business side of my art, which I truly enjoy.  This time has been incredibly fruitful for me as I have been able to hone in on certain aspects of my creative business and watch them expand and grow. I’ve also been out shooting in nature every week. I’m lucky to live in a more rural part of California so it’s easy to get out and socially distance in nature.

How do you define beauty?

Beauty is all the colors of the rainbow. It is nature and patterns. It is looking at the world in a new way. It is abstract. It is authentic.

Name three people or things that inspire your work.

Bob Dylan, travel, & fields of wildflowers.

Do you think social media has impacted your work?

Yes, social media has definitely impacted my work in the sense that it has expanded the audience for my art. It has connected me to amazing people far and wide and has led me to incredible opportunities personally and professionally! It’s been an amazing tool.

Can you describe the process of creating a work?

A lot of my work starts out from one of my photo adventures.  I like to take little day trips to explore new areas and old favorites for inspiration.  While I’m out, I photograph my journey using lenses I have created. I also work in paints and inks and merge them with my selected photographs.  Every work is uniquely created through manipulations of the lens and abstract editing techniques I have developed. 

What do you find challenging with the medium of photography?

What I find challenging with the medium of photography is also what I find makes it so intriguing.  Photography is constantly changing, yet at the same time, it remains the same.  It moves forward with new technology but you can look to the past for old techniques and inspiration. You can learn something new about photography every day.

What book or movie have you returned to multiple times?

Almost Famous! Love that film so much. It always brings a smile to my face. If I’m not watching that then I am watching some kind of music documentary.

What would you do if you weren’t an artist?

I would 100% be a musician! My parents are musicians and my dream growing up was to be a rockstar. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the patience with my instruments to continue down that path. Photography came to me naturally and just felt right. Luckily for me, I’ve been able to work with a lot of musicians through my art on music videos, album art, and touring as a live visual artist with bands.  Music inspires my work and it’s an amazing feeling to merge my two loves.

View Olivia D’Orazi’s work