Meet Zeal Eva | Visual Explorer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Zeal Eva and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Zeal Eva, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I was born in Brooklyn, and raised both there and in Bethlehem, PA (a suburb about an hour away from the city). I think being able to be from both a fast bustling lifestyle and one that is slow and quiet, greatly shaped who i am as a person, what I”m interested in and what i’m inspired by.

I have always been involved within the arts because I come from a family of artists–photographers, musicians, poets–so it’s always been in my blood. Being able to live in Bethlehem allowed me the opportunity to explore different avenues of art and also to discover more about myself.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a visual storyteller who celebrates the Black experience through artworks that bring to life a nostalgic feeling of home. Through photography, painting, illustration, and sculpture, I explore the intersections of the natural world and the built environment to highlight shared Black experiences and document the present. My process is deeply impacted by my surroundings including the individuals in the community and the places I work. My creative practice often includes organic forms such as fruits, vegetables, herbs, as well as interior spaces which reveal themes of growth, comfort, and discovery. Traces of my hand are seen in my painterly brushstrokes and warm toned portrait staging to uplift the sentimental.

As a black woman, and an artist in Pittsburgh, some of the challenges I’ve had has been trying to find my own unique voice. Many times others try to place me in the box as an “activism artist” when in reality that’s not the case. I think because of that, one of the larger challenges is to be able to just showcase blackness as is, as humanity. The good times & the bad while paying attention to the things that we miss. I’m grateful that, during my time so far here in Pittsburgh I’ve been able to witness extraordinary black women make strides and waves within the community. It reminds me to always be fearless and that there is no such thing as “too big” when it comes to my dreams, an idea, project, or goal in mind.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
To be honest, i’m a bit of a homebody, but this city has some nice stuff to offer especially during the summer months. One of my favorite things is taking a walk/bike ride through the Three Rivers Heritage trail via the Northside. A nice place to go through some nature is sitting at the fountain at Point State Park downtown and also sitting in Frick Park.

I’d take them to a nice museum trip via the Mattress Factory, Carnegie Museum of Art for their Inside Out summer series that happen on Thursdays & Saturdays, and to some local art galleries in Garfield along Penn Avenue.

Some of my favorite food spots to go Stack’d for some awesome burgers and drinks.

For a place with a nice view, I’d highly recommend Spirits & Tales in Oakland, it has one of the most amazing views of the city.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Wow, this is so difficult because I’ve had so many different communities of people who have both pushed and inspired me. I have to give the biggest shoutout to my highschool yearbook teacher Ms. Lisa Gilliard and my highschool english teacher Natalie Chickey. When I transferred high-schools they were the two teachers that really nurtured my growth as a new artists and into a more confident person.

Website: https://zealeva.wixsite.com/visuelles

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeal_eva/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/zealeva

Image Credits
Headshot: Porter Loves Photography