States of Being
on view: 9.2.25–11.1.25
UMass Boston closing reception:
Tuesday October 28th from 5-7pm
6pm Director led tour with student curators Helina Almonte & Rafaela Astudillo
light refreshments will be served
Artists include:
Ophelia Arc, Amy Bravo, Elena del Rivero, Jo Nanajian, Leah Piepgras,
and Sondra Perry
About the exhibition:
States of Being explores the femme body as a site of connection across intersectional experiences. As humans, we encounter various states of being. Through bodily interactions like sexual encounters, physical barriers, transitional rebirths, motherhood, illness, and political foul play, we become more aware of our bodies and the spaces we fill. As femme beings with vast and expansive identities, our embodied experiences are a frequent connector of interrelated, yet divergent, realities. Artists in the exhibition, like Amy Bravo, use their own bodies as the starting point, creating visceral and assertive works. Trojan Rooster (Day Stalker), for instance, a sculptural painting references the Trojan Horse as a symbol of strategic resistance. The exhibition honors and positions the body as the primary translator of the contemporary human experience through contemporary artworks in sculpture, painting, installation, and video.
This exhibition is organized by two of our student Gallery Assistants, Helina Almonte and Rafaela Astudillo, with the support of Gallery Director Sam Toabe.