Luisa Opalesky is an artist whose main practice is to question and examine human desires through photography using mood and movement via themes of meditation, sexuality, and absurdity. She appreciates pornography, and is manically compelled to explore as many artistic endeavors until she croaks. By way of photography, painting with heat, performance art, and dance, Opalesky documents and performs fantasies and visions from a conscious awareness inspiration from past sexual abuse trauma and alter ego. Her interest is bullseye’d in recognizing the dynamic human parts, particularly the ones that are repressed. Latest work includes the “Beauty Trilogy”, consisting of “WIG”, “HEEL”, and “NAIL” photographed over the course of 3 years shot on medium format film and polaroid, exhibited as large scale prints. The series is an unconventional collection of images inspired by notions of “beauty” while acquiring hundreds of manufactured artifacts of “glamorous” appeal while being a nightlife dancer throughout her 20’s. Originally from Philadelphia, she earned a BFA in photography mentored by George Pitts at Parsons New School for Design in 2010. She resides in New York City and teaches at the Bushwick Community Darkroom.
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Name : Luisa Opalesky @Luisa_Opalesky Métier : photographer / director / movement
Sources of inspiration : Themes of redemption in cinema, fire escape meditation observing people 6 flights high, excellent quality over the ear headphones, senior citizens walking in the morning sun, Nick Hakim, complete honesty, 90 minute Chinatown massage, a fine point brown pen, cutting pineapple.
Sources of motivation : Family history and dna, city history, being in motion, love life.
What makes you happy : Shane Gambill, neon lights, Prince’s life work, long lasting high heels, maintaining my long red Japanese gel nails, blue gum-balls from Economy candy, silk hoods, hounds, my mother’s manic emails, rooftops and balconies, Foos Gone Wild, kids snacking, Film Forum, honey, running full speed racing the subway on the Manhattan bridge.
Favorite reads : Miles the autobiography, the metamorphosis, the dead zone, wild at heart, the lyrics of Prince, a streetcar named desire.
Favorite tunes : Elevator to the Gallows soundtrack, Jessica Pratt, Bizet’s Carmen, Nelson Angelo y Joyce, Irma Thomas.
Favorite foods : Soup and fruits. Beauty tips : Wake up without a phone screen, Nicole Caroline Ice Sphere, Lanshin gua sha, anything from Credo and Gucci Westman, smiling genuinely
Favorite ways to unwind : Squeezing the eyebrow bone, foot massage, counting cash. Favorite part of living in NYC : Looking up what movies are playing near me, waking up early looking at the city at its quietest, Manhattan bridge, biking down Bowery, walking the dog during fall.
What gets you in a working flow : Sitting near a window notebook handy, the right socks, an organized desktop. What are you working on now : a Polaroid book, beauty trilogy book, and writing a story about a girl named Sucky.
Favorite motto : If you’re bored, you’re boring.
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