Alice Tran, or Alistrated, creates vibrant dreamscapes where you’re invited to step into a world of surrealism and vivid, candy-coloured anime. The self-taught artist from south-west Sydney grew up being drawn to art — when she wasn’t creating something, you could probably find her obsessing over it.  

Drawing inspiration from a diverse range of influences — spanning from Japanese anime to Buddhist iconography — Tran’s style is a dynamic fusion of fantastical, dream-like imagery and Eastern cultural references. From working with publications such as Frankie, to creating murals for local bars, Tran’s work has a focus on connecting communities. Now, Alice is on a mission to reconnect with her Vietnamese heritage, seeking to push the boundaries of her artistic practice into new, exciting dimensions. She was a natural choice to be the next artist in residence for The Galeries, creating vibrant work for Lunar New Year.  

In this interview, we dive into her creative process, the cultural inspirations that shape her work, and her plans for the future as she continues to expand her art. 

I struggle to define my art style because…It continues to be an ever-evolving one. But even as I move from one style to the next, I’ve always found myself drawn to the vibrancy of retro pop anime aesthetics and the absurdity of surrealism. I found that the blend of these two somewhat disparate styles gives me the freedom to build a dream-like world where there’s a sense that things don’t quite make sense, yet there’s still a familiar feeling. 

Growing up…I was always drawn to art making. When I wasn’t making art, I was at least thinking about it, silently obsessing about it, and wondering if there could be a bigger role for it in my life. When I was in the motivated seasons of my life, I often spent hours on end incessantly drawing and painting, often without a break because the feeling of getting into a flow was so magnetic and addictive. It certainly gave my life a sense of purpose. Overall art has always been a natural part of me, that I’m not sure if there ever was a definitive moment I got into it. 

I’m most inspired by…creatures and beings from Asian folklore showcased as statues that stood at temple entrances, and hung from pagoda walls. When I visited temples as a kid, I’ve always been drawn to the dynamism and fluidity of the dragon and Buddhist statues and how incredibly zen and peaceful they felt. I think in some way, I also tried subconsciously to bring that same zen and warmth to my art, regardless of subject matter. 

For my piece in The Galeries… I wanted to play with the theme of balance. A lot has happened in the world over the last few years that it feels as though our lives are thrown a bit out of balance, but the Year of the Snake is said to represent stability and harmony. I decided to compose each snake in a different compass direction, and incorporated the physical attributes of the natural elements that are associated with that direction in Asian culture. 

An artist whose work I’ve been resonating with recently…is Boy Kong. I was first drawn to their more absurd Ukiyo-e meets street art pieces, but I’ve since come to truly admire the breadth of mediums and styles they’re not afraid to explore. It’s always nice to be reminded that I don’t have to be beholden to only one style and that it’s okay for my art to evolve and change as I move through different phases of my life. 

When people encounter my work, I hope they feel…energised, delighted and curious.