Artist Zoe Rayor Can Do it All—and She Does

[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap radius”]T[/dropcap]he creative vibe in Denver is all about channeling the excited, happy-go-lucky flow of the city, tapping into parties, local culture and love for the great outdoors, while also looking inward for some healthy self-reflection. The emphasis on yoga, hikes, craft beer and cannabis are proof of this and so are the vibrant artists who inhabit this city. Zoe Rayor, local photographer, painter, screen printer, graphic designer and all around artist extraordinaire taps into this very essence when she creates.

“Creating has always been a passion of mine and is somewhat compulsive,” she tells us in an exclusive interview. “Art is a lot of fun, but it’s also very cathartic, spiritual, introspective and decidedly political. I am able to create my own meaning in my work, and I like that. Art is relevant and creates a necessary dialogue between reality and the desire for change. My work centers on the exploration of human emotions, the complicated duality between the presentation of self and actuality of lived experience, and the trauma/nostalgia associated with childhood. More subtly, my work attempts to challenge social constructions of gender, religion, morality, and the status quo.”

Rayor works in a variety of mediums to express her ideas and likes to take innocent, almost childlike imagery and turn it into a compelling work of art. “I typically create singular characters who embody a sense of whimsy and curiosity yet also express an attitude of discomfort or melancholy,” she says. “I am influenced by my own story and the stories of others, which are often peppered with bursts of joy and creativity alongside pain. I work in a variety of media, including pen and ink, watercolor, photography, screen printing, wet plate collodion, graphic design and jewelry design.”

In addition to her affinity for all things creative and her poignant sense for human nature, Rayor is also an “avid smoker,” and has used cannabis both to recreate and medicate. “Cannabis has come in and out of my life in waves, and I’m currently employing it for a number of reasons—both recreationally and medically,” she tells us. “With regard to working, smoking allows me to focus and acts as a conduit for my ideas to flow more freely. I’m able to set aside the stress that life often throws in your face and let my imagination take over. When I come to the table after a few hits, I find I’m much more likely to produce something that I like and that more fully expresses whatever emotions or ideas I’m trying to convey. I love to sit at my desk in the evenings, smoke a bowl, and get lost in the process of creating until the early hours of the morning. Almost all of my work is done this way. My art deals with and is influenced by my own issues surrounding trauma and identity, and I also use cannabis medically to alleviate the pain that accompanies PTSD and depression. In my own experience, cannabis has been a much safer and gentler alternative to pharmaceutical options.”

Rayor has been getting a lot of attention in the local art scene lately; she even had an art instillation at a local tap house called The Good Son. “For this job I was able to marry my work with Denver’s own history in an explosion of performative, circus-themed multimedia pieces,” she stated. “The theatre was built by Helen Bonfils—an actress, socialite, and philanthropist—in honor of her father, FG Bonfils. The Good Son, which is the English translation of the French ‘Bonfils,’ pays tribute to the dynamism of the Bonfils’ family and their contributions to the Denver performing arts scene. The bar is particularly inspired by the Sells-Floto Circus, which was established by FG Bonfils, billed as Denver’s first circus, and most famously featured Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show. It was a huge undertaking, and I had so much fun working my tail off. I created about 40 original pieces for the bar, including pen and ink illustrations, large photo manipulations, screen prints, circus-themed ephemera, and a few 3D works.” Much of this work will stay up permanently as decoration for the bar.

Rayor has a lot of new projects in the works to follow this up and keep the creativity flowing. “I’m working on some illustrations for a children’s book, a few commissioned pieces, and a couple tattoos.” We are sure to see more of Rayor’s wonderful work in the coming year. Find her online, and look out for upcoming art shows, installations and projects.

www.zoerayor.com