I am Aya Zejjari, a New York-born surrealist painter and artist currently based in Richmond. I specialize in large-scale acrylic surrealist paintings. I also do graphic design for INK magazine, as well as surreal illustrations based off of movies, pop culture, and original character design. My work combines organic scenes and subjects with inorganic situations to create a surrealist affect in my work. My art serves as secondary landscapes that invite the viewer to step into my world, as my works are my way of communicating with others. I want my art to not only help others understand me, but to help others understand themselves better. I use art as a tool for communication a lot of the time. As an artist, I’ve learned to understand that sometimes pictures are easier to put together than words, and my art has given me a voice. I also enjoy taking one idea, feeling, or concept and freezing it in a single image. Rarely in our busy lives do we get to stop and take a moment to appreciate small details, but art can do just that. In my work, I am able to sit with a feeling or an event for hours and focus on its visual aspects. Not only does art serve an aesthetic purpose for me, but it is a tool for reflection and education. My work shows appreciation to the natural world through my use of animal figures and scenic landscapes, also with a focus on the human face and expressive looks. I am inspired by the natural world, dreams I have, memories from my childhood, and images that pop into my mind when making my art. I want my art to not only inspire people to find the humor and joy in their lives, but to sit with their own feelings or ideas and imagine what it would be like to make their own art. My biggest goal as an artist is to create a gallery or publication where artists can showcase their own work.