{"id":1816379,"date":"2026-03-09T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-08T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1816379"},"modified":"2026-03-09T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-08T21:00:00","slug":"elizabeth-salokas-vibrant-painted-rocks-adopt-the-personalities-of-snacks-and-pop-culture-icons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1816379","title":{"rendered":"Elizabeth Saloka\u2019s Vibrant Painted Rocks Adopt the Personalities of Snacks and Pop Culture Icons"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content prose-colossal max-w-none\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default entry-header is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"colo-post-featured-image wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2252\" height=\"1721\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/saloka-2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Painted rocks by Elizabeth Saloka that resemble Butterfinger, Kit Kat, and Junior Mints candies\" style=\"object-fit:cover\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">All images courtesy of the artist, shared with permission<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0bc941e6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h1 class=\"alignfull wp-block-post-title\">Elizabeth Saloka\u2019s Vibrant Painted Rocks Adopt the Personalities of Snacks and Pop Culture Icons<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-meta is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-03-09T12:00:00-05:00\">March 9, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a class=\"category-art\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/art\/\" rel=\"tag\">Art<\/a><a class=\"category-craft\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/craft\/\" rel=\"tag\">Craft<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/kmothes\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Kate Mothes<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-share-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing has-visible-labels has-icon-color is-style-logos-only is-layout-flex wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-is-layout-flex\">\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-facebook has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F03%2Felizabeth-salokas-vibrant-painted-rocks-adopt-the-personalities-of-snacks-and-pop-culture-icons%2F&amp;title=Elizabeth%20Saloka%27s%20Vibrant%20Painted%20Rocks%20Adopt%20the%20Personalities%20of%20Snacks%20and%20Pop%20Culture%20Icons\" aria-label=\"Share\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tShare\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-mail has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#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\" aria-label=\"Email\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tEmail\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><button class=\"simplefavorite-button preset\" data-postid=\"470878\" data-siteid=\"1\" data-groupid=\"1\" data-favoritecount=\"0\"><i class=\"sf-icon-bookmark\"><\/i>Bookmark<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>While most of us will pass by stray stones and piles of rubble without much of a second thought, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/bettyrubblenyc\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Elizabeth Saloka<\/a> sees tons of potential. From a couple of rock piles outside of her regular supermarket to crumbling curbs or demolished structures, she sifts through a variety of shapes and sizes to find rocks that may eventually transform into vibrant mimics of common household items, boxed sandwiches from Pret a Manger, or Babybel brand snacking cheese.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLast fall, I bought a ton of marble scraps off a sculptor in Woodstock for like, $10 off Facebook,\u201d Saloka tells Colossal. \u201cFor sandwiches and cakes, crumbling asphalt parking lots are good. When I lived in Sunset Park, they demolished a building a couple blocks from my apartment, and there was a hole in the fence, so I\u2019d go in there and find tons of cool shapes and textures of rubble.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/saloka-8.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470878\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1938\" height=\"1504\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/saloka-8.jpg\" alt=\"A painted rock by Elizabeth Saloka that resembles a Bonne Maman jam jar\" class=\"wp-image-470886\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<p>Using bricks, she creates humorously fat stacks of $1 and $5 bills, and cut pavers become Premium saltine cracker boxes. \u201cThat particular rock shape\u2014a long rectangular cube\u2014is to me the holy grail of rock shapes, because it doesn\u2019t really naturally occur too much in nature,\u201d Saloka says. When she finds a particular shape or cut that works well for certain objects, such as Pink Pearl erasers or popular candies, she collects as many as she can.<\/p>\n<p>Pop culture items rule Saloka\u2019s oeuvre, from recognizable grocery store brands to fast food mainstays to memes like the so-called \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.buzzfeednews.com\/article\/katienotopoulos\/ikea-monkey-10-year-anniversary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">IKEA monkey<\/a>\u201d in its tiny shearling coat. There\u2019s also an air of nostalgia for toys, analog film, and pantry staples that many of us associate with our childhoods or an earlier generation.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re in New York, you can see the artist\u2019s work in <em>Snacks and the City<\/em> at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/gotham.ny\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gotham<\/a>\u2019s Chelsea gallery space, which runs from March 19 to May 3. Her work will also be including a group show at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/galactic.panther\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Galactic Panther<\/a>, which will be on view from March 27 to May 21. And in June, she\u2019ll participate in a two-person show alongside <a href=\"https:\/\/www.katebingamanburt.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kate Bingaman-Burt<\/a> at <a href=\"https:\/\/wsworkshop.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Women\u2019s Studio Workshop<\/a> and a solo exhibition at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/heretosunday\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Here to Sunday<\/a>. See more on Saloka\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/bettyrubblenyc\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/saloka-9.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470878\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1940\" height=\"1465\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/saloka-9.jpg\" alt=\"Painted rocks by Elizabeth Saloka that resemble a box of Premium saltine crackers and a single saltine cracker on its own\" class=\"wp-image-470887\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/saloka-1.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470878\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2252\" height=\"1849\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/saloka-1.jpg\" alt=\"Painted rocks by Elizabeth Saloka that resemble a Metro card, Sharpie marker, McDonald's hashbrown, an ice cream sandwich, and a cigarette\" class=\"wp-image-470879\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/saloka-11.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470878\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1440\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/saloka-11.jpg\" alt=\"A painted rock sculpture by Elizabeth Saloka that resembles a stack of $5 bills\" class=\"wp-image-470900\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/saloka-3.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470878\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1782\" height=\"1779\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/saloka-3.jpg\" alt=\"A painted rock by Elizabeth Saloka that resembles a boxed Pret a Manger sandwich\" class=\"wp-image-470881\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/saloka-4.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470878\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1529\" height=\"1831\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/saloka-4.jpg\" alt=\"Painted rocks by Elizabeth Saloka that resemble a number of Pink Pearl erasers\" class=\"wp-image-470882\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/saloka-10.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470878\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1887\" height=\"1570\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/saloka-10.jpg\" alt=\"A painted rock by Elizabeth Saloka that resembles a hamburger\" class=\"wp-image-470888\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/saloka-6.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470878\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2252\" height=\"2756\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/saloka-6.jpg\" alt=\"Two painted rocks by Elizabeth Saloka that resemble Maruchan brand chicken ramen packets\" class=\"wp-image-470884\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/saloka-5.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470878\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2194\" height=\"2592\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/saloka-5.jpg\" alt=\"Painted rocks by Elizabeth Saloka that resemble objects like a Babybel cheese round, a Tootsie Roll, a Hostess cake, an 8 ball, a Rubik's cube, and other objects\" class=\"wp-image-470883\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/saloka-7.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470878\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2252\" height=\"2457\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/saloka-7.jpg\" alt=\"Painted rocks by Elizabeth Saloka that resemble six boxes of Kodak 35mm film\" class=\"wp-image-470885\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"after-entry\" role=\"complementary\" aria-label=\"After Entry\">\n<section id=\"block-16\" class=\"widget widget_block widget_text\">\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:#88caf0\" 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Snacks and Pop Culture Icons March 9, 2026 ArtCraft Kate Mothes Share Email Bookmark While most of us will pass by stray stones and piles of rubble without much of a second thought, Elizabeth Saloka sees tons 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