ABOUT US
Exquisite Trash
As a collective, we are in the emerging phase of our work.
It began with the trust of passing a sketchbook to the other artist and watching a piece that was once “stuck” transform into something new through collaboration. Whether working side-by-side on different things or working together on one thing, the influence we have on one another creatively is what we now call Exquisite Trash.
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In addition to collaborative sketchbook work, we’ve worked on outdoor large-scale paintings, an indoor mural, and
a four-month series of pop-up pet portrait events with a local brewery to benefit a senior dog sanctuary.
Edward Cavazos
Being a self-taught Texas native, I’ve immersed myself in various artistic disciplines, finding employment elsewhere to supplement my income. While working nights at Tyson Fresh Meats, I feverishly drew in a freezer between pallets. As a conductor for The Union Pacific, I spent many sleepless nights drawing in a locomotive, turning my hotel room into a studio at the other end of the road. Working in a cabinet shop allowed me to experiment with woodworking tools, creating artboards and frames using old longboard decks.
I currently work as a welder with nearly a decade of experience. While the welding work I’ve done professionally has been monotonous, the skill of welding has made an interesting crossover into my creative practice. Using industrial fabrication equipment, I’ve made lighted sculptures out of discarded nuts and built chairs with metal scraps.
My art has never taken a backseat to my other financial pursuits, but because of the circumstances of working on the road or in warehouses, I have been most prolific in my sketchbooks. Lauren has jokingly referred to my sketchbooks as “the artifacts,” but there is some truth in that. They travel with me wherever I go and reflect on my life.
My work explores humanity, often presenting it in its many forms―grotesque, bizarre, beautiful, and layered. I create detailed and intimate portrait studies, experimenting with various mediums and layering imagery to create surreal compositions.
Exhibitions
2017 · Dress Shop Gallery · Brooklyn, NY
2019–Present · Cerulean Galleries · Amarillo and Dallas, TX
2022 · A Space Between gallery · Sacramento, CA
Lauren Allen
When I was 11, my dad bought me a first-of-its-kind digital illustration tablet and told me that if I wanted to get a job when I grew up, I should become a graphic designer instead of an artist. I liked the idea of a practice that allowed me to incorporate many mediums, such as photography, illustration, and sewing.
I experimented with traditional printing methods in college, including letterpress, screenprinting, etching, and block printing. I also discovered my interest in politics as I navigated topics like George W. Bush’s second term, the Iraq war, and a racist college mascot that needed to go.
This passion for politics led me to Washington, D.C., where I worked for a think tank, creating satirical political cartoons, designing reports, and managing print production. My work today is still deeply informed by politics and political activism, examining topics like environmentalism, women’s rights, racism, and unconscious bias through visual storytelling. I currently lead a team of nine designers at a marketing and strategy firm, serving over 50 clients in the political and nonprofit industries.
Community Work
Fall/Winter 2022 · Citizen’s of the World Charter School, Kansas City, MO · After-school drawing program
May 2023–Present · Women-Led Cycling · Community organizing, visual storytelling
August 2023 · Gravel Worlds, Lincoln, NE · Diversity Panel
September 2023 · Women’s Bike Summit, Kansas City, MO · Inclusive Cycling Groups Panel
November 2023 · All Bodies on Bikes · Podcast Panelist
March 2024 · Women-Led Cycling · Kansas City, MO · Block printing workshop