The Argentinian Artist Whose Colorful Closet and Music Are Inspired by Postmodern Furniture
When I ask Argentinian-born, Portland-based artist Pilar Zeta to describe her work, she struggles to find the words. She throws around “colorful,” “retro-futuristic,” and “otherworldly,” which are all appropriate, before settling on a description that represents her virtual designs best: “It’s like a parallel universe!” Zeta’s honed in on this distinct visual language—inspired by her interests in Egypt, magic, and metaphysics—in various forms over the years. She’s designed album artwork for bands like Coldplay, she’s provided live visuals for Katy Perry on tour, and she even had a brief stint as a clothing designer with her brand, Holographic Universe, which was inspired by neoclassical sculptures and time travel. Even her home, which she moved into last year with her partner, prolific producer Jimmy Edgar, is an extension of her surreal, bold designs: Every colorful piece of postmodern furniture feels as carefully placed as the objects that float in her almost 3-D virtual landsca