SOBO Artist of the Month: Anna Zucker

The painter is inspired by the range of emotions humans feel.

The mission of the Winter Garden Art Association is to showcase, encourage and celebrate individual creativity and artistic expression among local artists.

West Orange County is teeming with artists whose talents range from visual to performing to literary arts. Whether they are expressing themselves with a microphone, paint brush and canvas, or the written word, artists and their creations give us avenues in which to imagine, dream and wonder.

In this new feature, the Observer and the WGAA will highlight a local artist monthly.

This month, meet Winter Garden resident and painter Anna Zucker.

How long have you have been creating?

I feel like I’ve been creating my whole life, but I started painting a few years ago. After 14 years of working as a textile/product designer and creating mostly digital art, I went back to traditional painting. I have to admit, it felt a bit rusty at the beginning.

What are your favorite mediums?

Oil paint, graphite and mixed media

What are your favorite themes in your artwork?

Emotions. I like to capture the feeling. I want someone to stop and take a second look at my paintings.

Why is expressing yourself through art important to you?

Art helps me reach deep and express myself without using words. (I’m not good with that.) Sometimes it allows me to reach and express things laying deep in unconsciousness.

Do you have a formal art education?

I studied interior design at Columbia College-Chicago and Illinois Institute of Art-Shaumburg.

Who is your favorite famous artist and why?

So many famous artists to admire. I don’t want to focus only on one. They all had one thing in common: Their work was very important to them, and they were expressing themselves. Leonardo, Artemisia Gentileschi, Rubens, Tamara DeLempicki, Frida, Warhol and Banksy, to name a few.

What notable places has your artwork been displayed?

SOBO, Orlando Museum of Art, City Arts

In which museum (worldwide) would you most like to see your artwork displayed and why?

Centre Pompidou; I’d love to go to Paris. Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago — I used to live in Chicago and worked at MCA during college.

What accolades and awards have you received?

2020 Best of Show at SOBO, 2021 Best of Show at OMA during its first Thursdays and 2022 Best Oil at SOBO