Life & Work with Alisa Ochoa of Costa Mesa

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alisa Ochoa

Alisa, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Sure, I’m a visual artist working primarily in ceramic sculpture. There wasn’t an art museum or traditional art venues in the city I grew up in. My parents always supported creativity at home. We had crayons, paper, and later, a typewriter. My parents were creative in their own ways —my mother was an excellent seamstress and gardener, and my father enjoyed home improvement projects and tinkering with his ’79 Camaro. Watching them work with their hands sparked my interest in creating things myself. 

I’ve always been drawn to visual art. The elementary school I attended was a Title 1 school, and we were fortunate to have a wonderful itinerant art teacher who visited weekly with his art cart. He played a significant role in nurturing my early interest in art, making me feel seen and valued outside my home.

In high school, I was lucky to have an art teacher, Ms. Richardson, who pushed me to explore and apply my artistic skills. She and my guidance counselor were instrumental in securing scholarships that allowed me to attend college. I was the first in my family to graduate, commuting from my parent’s home to a public university.

Fast forward to today, some twenty years later, I’m still in touch with Ms. Richardson, and I maintain an active art practice. My parents have since passed away, but I’m constantly connecting with them in the studio. It’s been a long journey, and there are countless reasons to call it quits, but for me, it was never a question of whether I would continue—it was simply a part of who I am. Art has always been immensely fulfilling for me, and it feeds into so many other facets of my life. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The path of an artist is far from straightforward—it’s more like off-roading with no GPS, just navigating the terrain as best you can. It’s forever filled with unknowns, detours, and flat tires. The financial struggle has been and continues to be a real challenge. I don’t need the money to rain; I want sustainability. It’s about finding a way to keep doing what I love, to continue creating. With so many incredible artists and so few opportunities, it’s important to create opportunities for myself, my peers, and the next generation. Artist-run spaces and grassroots communities help keep the healthy balance — find your art weirdos and run with them! And rest when you need to.

And then there’s life—always unpredictable, always disruptive, yet constantly fueling creativity. It inspires and tests your commitment to art and humanity. It’s been true for me, anyway. I have a lot of friends, including my partner, who surfs, and I know how impossible it is to get them out of the ocean when the conditions are just right. It’s the same for an artist—when you’re in that creative flow everything opens up, and you feel connected. Whether there’s that elusive last wave or another hour in the studio, we’re summoned back to tackle our to-do lists. I do what I can and try to relax about it.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I often joke that I’m a one-person group show. It’s hard for me to say that I have a specialty because I work with different materials, which provide various entry points. While my primary medium is ceramics, I often incorporate it into videos, installations, and prints. Reflecting on my twenty-year practice, I’ve noticed how my ideas travel in time, often revisiting certain themes. I’m proud of everything—the harsh reviews, the positive ones, rejection letters, and even the works that I trashed. All were necessary steps in my artistic journey. My work tends to exist in contrasts: quiet and loud, hard surfaces and soft spots. Currently, you have the opportunity to physically interact with some of my ceramic fruit sculptures at Unveil Gallery in Irvine. This is a unique opportunity as most art is not meant to be touched. The sculptures are part of a two-person show, displayed alongside Huang Zhen’s beautiful paintings. Our exhibition “Photosynthesis” will be open until October 26th. I invite you and your readers to come thru!

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I don’t. The fact that I’m still here, not embittered, involved with my community, and continuing to make art is a testament in itself—and that’s worth celebrating daily. Though I’ve reached the midway point in life, I strangely feel like I’m just getting started. It’s a privilege to be here and share my story.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.alisaochoa.com
• Other: https://unveilgallery.com

Image Credits
Studio Portrait: Courtesy of the artist
Durian Rattle, Kiwano Melon Rattle, Orange Rattle credits: Photographed by Julian Calero
Installation Image: Courtesy of Gasia Karakesis and Unveil Gallery