The Art of Play: Liz Ramos Paints Philly Pink

“I’m like, ‘shit I’m making money, you’re repeating generational trauma, and I’m living life.’”

In the moments leading up to the call, I found myself growing increasingly nervous.

It had been a while since we’d talked. Months, in fact, and Liz is the kind of person you’re afraid to bother because they always have something going on. To set the tone, I put on some indie music —t he kind I usually wouldn’t listen to — in a feeble attempt to prepare myself for the eclectic personality awaiting me on the other side of the line.

I first met Elizabeth Ramos in high school in years ago. Then, she had dark curly hair and sported her signature outfit — a big yellow raincoat, thrifted jeans, and some beat up Doc Martens. The person who looked back at me on FaceTime was much more refined. The black hoodie and slicked back red hair alone were testaments to her amplified maturity.

Liz is the kind of girl who, even in tenth grade, carried herself with grace and candor. So secure, so steady... almost like an old person.

And I always wondered why.

It turns out Liz is the product of a loving community. When asked who her biggest supporters were, she couldn’t supply a solitary answer. “My mom has a college education, and my dad is an IT guy. None of my relatives ever pursued an artistsic career but a lot of them tell me their regrets of not doing that […] my parents have always supported it because [I’ve] proved my work ethic and care for it."

Despite the unconditional affection from her loved ones, Liz admits she feels slightly misunderstood in her career.

“[In a way] I think I’m my biggest supporter because I don’t think anybody understands all of the nitty-gritty actions it requires for me to uphold my day-to-day task. So, I think also I know that no matter how much people support me, I can only support myself. I think that’s why I work hard.”

In spite of the grind, Ramos comes short of a hedonist when it comes to the lengths she goes to enjoy life. Her FOMO inducing Instagram stories often feature outings with friends, cute outfits, and concerts. Somehow, she even convinced me to frequent some raves with her over the last two years: one in a forest, another under an overpass — we danced to EDM and ingested strange substances into the early hours of the morning.

Elizabeth reminds the no-nonsense types that frolicking through life is something a twenty-something year old girl should do. She surrounds herself with like people: strikingly gorgeous women who like fun.

["Big Three" Painted by Elizabeth Ramos]

The world this artist paints is shrouded in a pink, hazy fog. It’s not unusual to see blue skinned sirens or mystical goddesses splayed across her canvases. She draws inspiration from renaissance and religious art while playing on the line between realism and surrealism. Much like works of Dali, her paintings capture images in a void. “[I want it to be] like an experience, a sensation.”

The female figure stands at the center of Ramos’s art. “My style [has] motifs of femininity and girlhood.” She recalledthat watching the Frida Kahlo movie as a kid reinforced her admiration for pioneering women. “Seeing her navigate and love the art form and do self-portraits and create these weird compositions - she was a big inspiration, even the idea of her.”

Liz paints on commission while attending the University of the Arts and working under muralists. She spends long hours in a cold concrete studio to get all of it done. “Sometimes I’m like hmm... how can I sit for such long periods of time just painting? I never was therapized; I never had like, a psychiatrist or anything so ... I don’t know. Maybe I’m on the spectrum. I like to paint because it’s fun.”

Since her 2019 move to Philly, Elizabeth has worked as an apprentice under prominent Philadelphia muralist, Kala Hagopian. Her most recent work is a colorful rendition of The Office logo. It will be installed in Downtown Scranton, spring 2023.

Liz has always aimed to dip her toes in the nearest art scene. Now fully aligned with her desires, she has taken it upon herself to take full advantage of city life and the opportunities it brings. She intends on continuing her solo work and eventually opening her own gallery.

The key to her success is simple. “Be humble”, she says, “listen to people who know better than you.”

Amid all the partying and play, Ramos recounts relevant advice.

“My uncle Robert has seven kids, and he was a boxer, but he was a poet and he liked theatre. He told me he got opportunities to travel and do projects, but he was scared. Now he has like, brain damage – he’s chill he just can’t drive- but honestly, it’s the not the people who succeed I listen to but the people who have regrets. They mean it when theygive advice.”

“[My family’s] advice always echoes in my head. The one-man in [my] church who’s still struggling with his career always says take every opportunity that presents itself cuz’ you never know. I want to listen to that.”