Art, Identity and Female Sexuality — Alma Singer is here to make you smile
At the beginning of 2023, 36 year old gallerist Carla Nizzola decided to pursue her love of making art using a pseudonym. Just six months on she has multiple upcoming solo exhibitions, a print release with Jealous Gallery and can be found at auction alongside Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin and Jeff Koons.
Her debut solo exhibition A For Effort opens 10 June.
‘A For Effort’ is a humorous and personal exploration of the world of Alma Singer, the pseudonym of gallerist Carla Nizzola, exploring issues around value, art, identity, and female sexuality.
With a background in fine art and a thriving career as a gallerist, Carla Nizzola has reclaimed her creative power through her alter ego, Alma Singer, crafting genuine and relatable artworks that captivate with their witty slogans, naïve yet endearing stick figures, and humorous social commentary.
“Alma Singer is my alter ego. Sort of who I’d be if I was less shy and insecure. I make not very well painted a little bit funny drawings and paintings. I make them because it brings me a lot of joy and I hope other people feel a bit of that when they see the work.”
Her early attempts at creating grand and serious paintings as a fine art student and graduate dissuaded Nizzola from pursuing a life as an artist. It’s only recently she’s discovered that her natural style leans towards a slightly imperfect yet humorous approach. Embracing her own artistic identity, she found that her Alma Singer works truly reflected her authentic self.
“Being a bit older now I’ve stopped trying to emulate other artists I admire and be more accepting of my natural style — a little bit shit but kind of funny. I guess, for better or worse, the Alma Singer works feel like they’re really me.”
It was only at the beginning of this year that Carla began making work, and from the first post on Instagram there was an immediate audience of collectors. In this short space of time, the thirty-something has achieved tremendous success, with her prints available at Bonhams auction house alongside Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, and Tracey Emin. In the first month of sharing her work Carla was invited to show at London Art Fair and offered solo exhibitions in London and the US. Her first prints were released in March at The Original Print Fair and both editions sold out on the opening night. The demand for an Alma Singer commission is so high that there is a waiting list until October.
As her debut solo exhibition prepares to open, Nizzola’s story resonates as a testament to resilience, female empowerment, and the true essence of art.
“It’s weird, but my relationship to the art world is very different depending on whether I’m interacting as a gallerist or an artist. I get mansplained to a lot as a female gallery owner which can be really frustrating. As an artist people tend to be much warmer and supportive which I guess I didn’t really expect and has been a nice surprise.”
The show title refers to comments on Nizzola’s school reports for art class. Nizzola went on to study fine art at Lancaster University and spent a few years in her early twenties making self-proclaimed ‘pretentious paintings that no-one, except my parents, wanted’, before putting the idea of being an artist to one side to pursue a career as a gallerist. It wasn’t until 15 years later that Carla was inspired to start making art again.
“Working under a pseudonym has given me the confidence to show my work and overcome my insecurities a little. Being a thirty-six-year-old woman who makes badly drawn stick figures that are quite personal I thought I’d be laughed at for considering myself an artist. As Carla I’m a bit shy and insecure, but Alma Singer is the little part of me that couldn’t care less what people think.”
The subject matter of Singer’s pieces cover everything from body image to social media to sex to personal values to mental health. The poignant themes are always met with a tongue in cheek attitude, a colourful palette and smile evoking imagery. Nizzola uses her art like a journal, spilling out everyday thoughts and experiences without much thought and without a filter. Alma Singer is cautious of the comparison that comes with using other artists as inspiration, though she admires many. Instead, her own experiences, the world around her and music are her main sources of inspiration.
“Mostly I make stuff without overthinking it, just whatever is in my head that day. Its only when I stand back that I realise I’m expressing something I think or care about, even if it’s in a slightly silly way. I guess when you make things it’s almost impossible not to put yourself and your opinions in the work. I want people to smile, and maybe I have the rather lofty idea that by poking fun at things some people might stop and think about their own views and opinions a little bit.”
Alma Singer, through her playful and socially conscious artwork, invites us into a world that combines humour, introspection, and a unique artistic perspective. Her ability to embrace her natural style and express her thoughts through accessible art is an inspiration to both aspiring female artists and those who appreciate the power of creativity in conveying meaningful messages.
You can see Alma Singer’s works for yourself at her debut show ‘A For Effort’ this summer at Extraordinary Objects gallery in Cambridge. Upcoming projects include an exclusive print collaboration with Jealous Gallery in June and solo shows at Quantus Gallery London, and Artemezia Gallery in Tuscon, Arizona. She also has plans to launch a range of Alma Singer merchandise via her website later this year.
Alma Singer, A For Effort — 10 June — 6 August 2023
Extraordinary Objects
14 Green Street,
Cambridge, CB2 3JU
www.extraordinaryobjects.co.uk
@almasingerart
