Tanza J. Solis

Tanza J. Solis is a multidisciplinary artist who specializes in visual storytelling. His work explores the intersection of art and psychology with visual language informed by natural and biological forces. These explorations are necessarily informed by his experience as a queer, trangender man of the Filipino diaspora. He deals largely in figurative painting while sustaining an inquisitive practice that includes comics, writing, printmaking, and fiber arts.

The brain exists in a physiological space which can be explored directly with appropriate attention. Rumination has a physical quality to it — there’s often a center of gravity in the body where tension is held. The inner life of a body caught in the crosshairs of oppressive, colonial systems is marked by ambiguous grief, cognitive dissonance, looming threats of violence, and apocalyptic futures. In response, he creates intense, emotionally confrontational paintings featuring distorted figures, states of matter, and biomimicry. They are felt as much as they are seen; they prompt an immediate, visceral response from the viewer. This work invites the viewer to ease out of the numb, dissociated state and connect directly on a deep, emotional level.

Tanza received his B.A. in Art Practice at Stanford University, matriculating with Interdisciplinary Honors in the Arts. His work has been showcased at Brea Gallery’s Made in California and Kearny Street Workshop’s emerging artist showcase APAture. His first solo show, Sol, debuted at Strut in July 2024. He currently resides in the SF Bay Area and works at California College of the Arts.