About Elizabeth Lozano

Artist for Kwaneta Harris’ Portrait

Artist Statement
When creating artwork I want to share with the audience the world I live in. In prison the normal becomes the abnormal and the abnormal then normal. My artwork is a combination of material and techniques used to express themes of incarceration and the struggle with explicit bias. 

I enjoy working with acrylic paint, finding it most forgiving. However I will use any material I can get my hands on to express what I feel. I like to add texture to my work using pieces of wood, flower petals, glitter or anything that blends with the art piece. I have discovered that this technique makes my work pop out while showing prison and the spirits desire to thrive through it all. 

I am the oldest and only woman of six children with parents that migrated from Michoacán and Guadalajara, Mexico to the United States over fifty years ago. Through painting, drawing, beading, collaging and other forms of art I seek to explore, question, and bring awareness to my status as a sixteen year old that was sentenced to die in prison— excessive sentencing, and its effects. Using my own story I touch on themes of restorative justice, rehabilitation, trauma, healing, hardship, resilience, the fear of separation from loved ones, and dying in prison. With my art I hope to bring more awareness to the long history of mass incarceration, the despair in marginalization and continue to impact people. 

Artist Bio 
Elizabeth Lozano is a Latina artist who was born in Torrance, CA and currently resides in Chowchilla, CA. In 2012 Elizabeth received her A.A. in Behavioral and Social Science with Honors from Feather River College. Elizabeth's art has been exhibited in Central California Women's Facility's visiting store. Most recently the facility requested from Elizabeth to help paint affirmations on the sidewalks to uplift the community. Her portrait of incarcerated writer Kwaneta Harris is included in the exhibition Return to Sender: Prison as Censorship, fall 2023. 

Visual Description: A framed portrait of Daniel Pirkel on the left wearing a blue and yellow shirt with a solid brown background, accompanied by their framed statement. Framed underneath is Prikel’s censored text. 

A framed black and white pencil on paper portrait of Elizabeth Haws with a scale in the background, accompanied by their framed statement. Framed underneath is Haws’s censored text. 

A framed colored pencil on paper portrait of Derek Trumbo with a yellow background, accompanied by their framed statement. Framed underneath is Trumbo’s censored text. 

Near cell wall:
On the right is a framed photograph of Kwaneta Harris, accompanied by their framed statement. Framed underneath is Harris’s censored text. 

On the left is a framed photograph of Zhi Kai in their graduation gown and cap, accompanied by their framed statement. Framed underneath is Kai’s censored text.