Manifest Destiny

Zachary Ochoa

October 21–November 18, 2023

Installation Views

Manifest Destiny. Installation view, Steve Turner, 2023

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Works

Zachary Ochoa. <em>GHETTO FUNERAL/ULTIMATE ANIME DEATH 2007</em>, 2023. Acrylic, Lisa frank stickers, and paper on canvas, 47 x 41 inches (119.4 x 104.1 cm)

Zachary Ochoa. <em>LUCKY GIRL 2002</em>, 2023. Acrylic, oil pastel, cigarette, and ace of diamonds playing card on canvas, 58 x 66 inches (147.3 x 167.6 cm)

Zachary Ochoa. <em>SPRING 2 INFINITY/THE PRETENDER 2000</em>, 2023. Acrylic, oil pastel on canvas, 66 x 58 inches (167.6 x 147.3 cm)

Zachary Ochoa. <em>SILENCE OF THE LAMBS/MOTHER NATURE 1999</em>, 2023. Acrylic, oil pastel and ink on canvas 58 x 66 inches (147.3 x 167.6 cm)

Zachary Ochoa. <em>AMERICAN DEATH STAR/FOREVER ALONE!!! 2004</em>, 2023. Acrylic, oil pastel, and vinyl sticker on canvas 66 x 58 inches (167.6 x 147.3 cm)

Zachary Ochoa. GHETTO FUNERAL/ULTIMATE ANIME DEATH 2007, 2023. Acrylic, Lisa frank stickers, and paper on canvas, 47 x 41 inches (119.4 x 104.1 cm)

Zachary Ochoa. LUCKY GIRL 2002, 2023. Acrylic, oil pastel, cigarette, and ace of diamonds playing card on canvas, 58 x 66 inches (147.3 x 167.6 cm)

Zachary Ochoa. SPRING 2 INFINITY/THE PRETENDER 2000, 2023. Acrylic, oil pastel on canvas, 66 x 58 inches (167.6 x 147.3 cm)

Zachary Ochoa. SILENCE OF THE LAMBS/MOTHER NATURE 1999, 2023. Acrylic, oil pastel and ink on canvas 58 x 66 inches (147.3 x 167.6 cm)

Zachary Ochoa. AMERICAN DEATH STAR/FOREVER ALONE!!! 2004, 2023. Acrylic, oil pastel, and vinyl sticker on canvas 66 x 58 inches (167.6 x 147.3 cm)

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Steve Turner is pleased to present Manifest Destiny, a solo exhibition by Zachary Ochoa which features recent paintings that conflate the artist’s lived experiences as an Afro-Latinx queer person with the escapades of cartoon characters such as Popeye, Donald Duck and Tweety Bird. According to the artist, “I use the imagery of American cartoons to address the disappearing American Dream and the rise of teen suicide and depression. The characters are stand-ins for me, both psychologically and physically as they also bear my scars and tattoos. They embody darkness and violence, but they are also funny and playful. They enable me to find inner peace and power amidst a constant onslaught of ghetto aggressions.”

Zachary Ochoa (born 1998, Aurora, Illinois) earned a BFA from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (2020). They have had solo exhibitions with Steve Turner, Los Angeles (2021 & 2022) and have had works included in group exhibitions at Spring Break, New York (2021) and Woaw, Hong Kong (2022).

Born 1998, Aurora, Illinois
Lives and works in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Education
2020
BFA, Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design

Solo Exhibitions
2023
Manifest Destiny, Steve Turner, Los Angeles

2022
All Dogs Go 2 Heaven, Steve Turner, Los Angeles

2021
Return of the Magic Sword, Steve Turner, Los Angeles

2019
Zachary Ochoa, Riverwest Public House Cooperative, Milwaukee

Group Exhibitions
2022
Untitled, Miami (with Steve Turner) EXPO Chicago (with Steve Turner)
Lost In A Spectacle, WOAW Gallery, Beijing

2021
In Crystalized Time, Museum of Museums, Seattle
SPRING/BREAK Art Show, New York 2020 NADA, Miami
I’ll Make You Sorry, The Green Gallery, Milwaukee
Part 32 of ‘By Yourself with Everyone’, Good Mother Gallery Life in a PRESSURE COOKER, Young Space

2019
Temporary [Re]Surfacing, The Real Tinsel, Milwaukee 00000 GHOOST $HOW, Gluon Gallery, Milwaukee

Bibliography
2022
“Artist talk with Zachary Ochoa,” Art of Tomorrow “Interview with Zachary Ochoa,” Archive OO

2021
“Return of The Magic Sword: A Conversation With Zachary Ochoa,” Juxtapoz, November 29 “Issue 001: Summer 2021,” Sap Magazine