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Where's the frame
April 5, 2023 7:14 PM
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For the University of Houston’s MFA exhibition at the BLAFFER Museum, wtf? has partnered with By Proxy* to work on a series of artist spotlights. This article will introduce all the artists who participated in the series. You can find in-depth articles on the website of By Proxy*.
Catherine Martinez
Catherine Martinez, a Houston-based artist, centres her practice on materiality and delves into overlooked histories of the African diaspora. Catherine's work is anchored in extensive research and utilizes diverse techniques that transcend traditional mediums. Her material choices are influenced by her ancestry and Black history, such as her use of steel, a nod to her great-great-grandfather who was a blacksmith. Through the use of materials like crochet and clothing design, Catherine's work explores femininity and community connections. Her research-based art challenges the underrepresentation of the Black diaspora's contributions to society, countering the narrative that Black people had limited or no impact after 1865. Her thought-provoking and evocative work is enhanced by her use of materials, amplifying the impact of her message.
For more information, see the full article here.
Layla Bispo
Layla Bispo (they/them) is an interdisciplinary artist and educator who creates art almost exclusively from found/discarded objects. Crying and tears are central themes in Layla’s work, particularly Psychosomatic Tears and Generational Tears. Their current body of work is a system of stand-alone artworks acting as a succession of hypotheses. Throughout Layla's work, the theme of self-care is prevalent, and their use of assemblage from discarded objects speaks to the commodification of self-care and queerness in contemporary society.
For more information, see the full article here.
Saran Alderson
Saran Alderson is an artist based in Houston, Texas, whose work celebrates the beauty of the human form in all its complexity, including the parts that society often deems unattractive or unworthy of attention. Her art challenges societal norms and embraces the abject elements of the body, inviting us to confront and embrace them in a new light. She works with a range of techniques and mediums, including charcoal, paint, clay, and digital media. Through her art, Saran encourages us to embrace ourselves and each other in all our complexities and to challenge societal norms that dictate what is deemed acceptable.
For more information, see the full article here.
Cory Reeves
In his paintings, Cory Reeves depicts seemingly ordinary and overlooked urban locations such as an old movie theatre, a video store, a motel, and an office/retail complex. Cory believes that these places possess a certain vibe that is both uncanny and unnerving and evoke a feeling of being in a dream or a movie. He intentionally omits people in his paintings to create a sense of ambiguity, making the buildings the main focus and characters of the work. While some may interpret the paintings as social or economic commentary, Cory is more interested in creating a psychological effect on the viewer by challenging their expectations and making them feel unsettled. He also created a video piece that accompanied his paintings in his thesis exhibition, which aimed to make the viewer question their motivations for watching and their expectations of what should happen.
For more information, see the full article here.
Mandana Ranjbar
Mandana Ranjbar is an Iranian Houston-based conceptual artist whose feminist practice is mainly expressed through the medium of photography. Her "Captivity" series, exhibited at the MFA, deals with women's rights and struggles. Mandana uses different props as metaphors to evoke strong emotional responses and talk about feminist issues. The series shows how women unconsciously self-destruct to relieve social and psychological pressures, and the result of attempting to free themselves from unequal gender power dynamics is destroying their relationships with the community. The photographs show women in oppressive situations, but the final agency lies with the depicted subject. The artist sheds light on the restricted reality of many women worldwide but also shows that there is a chance to change things around.
For more information, see the full article here.
Isela Aguirre
Isela Aguirre is a multi-disciplinary artist who incorporates photography, camera-less photography processes, collage, fibre, painting, and installation into her creative practice. Instead of traditional paintings, Isela's works are crafted from colourful textiles and materials, with bold colours and abstract patterns. The artist's cyanotype process involves combining natural elements with coloured fabric to create painterly images. Isela's work is light and portable, with a desire for it to be non-precious and nomadic. The physicality of her work is a direct response to the human condition, with a reminder to keep life light.
For more information, see the full article here.
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This post is part of a series in collaboration with the 2023 UH MFA Exhibition at the Blaffer Museum of Art, and written in partnership with the Houston-based Curator William Baldwin, the founder of By Proxy* a curated digital platform showcasing emerging creative talent.