Unfiltered Femininity, an open-call exhibition curated by Jennessa Burks with artworks juried by Worcester artists Amora and Rixy will open June 5 at the Mary Cosgrove Dolphin Gallery at Worcester State University.
“Reign,” by Susan Hong-Sammons
The opening reception will take place that same day from 4-7p.m. and is free and open to the community. Unfiltered Femininity, which features diverse art styles from various local artists, will be on view at the gallery through July 5.
Unfiltered Femininity challenges artists and viewers to reflect on the idea of femininity through an unfiltered lens by shedding societal norms and pushing past current ideas of socially acceptable imagery. Instead of narrowing the scope of femininity in search of a definition, the works in the show seek to expand viewers’ understanding of femininity through each artist’s unique perspective and interpretation. This exhibition aims to capture a full spectrum of authentic expression.
Burks has immersed herself in a lifelong passion for the arts, emphasizing therapeutic benefits, community, and the power of public art. Through paintings, mixed media pieces, and murals, Burks works to express her emotions and amplify the voices of marginalized communities. Her commissioned work, gallery pieces, and artivism series have focused on memorial portraiture and topics such as mass incarceration, code switching, and intersectionality.
Burks’ portraiture captures the beauty, strength, and resilience of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities. These groups are commonly missing from art spaces, with their stories and truths muted throughout history. Burks has helped create more than 20 large scale public art projects throughout Massachusetts and has been recognized with the Katherine Erskine Award, MAEA Community Arts Educator of the Year, Worcester’s 40 Under 40 award, and a Key to the City.
Rixy, an interdisciplinary street artist, stylizes the intersection of feminism, spirituality, and social justice in and around her Latine Caribbean contemporary diaspora. Her works—which incorporate painting, sculpture, public art, and immersive installations—are built on a foundation of sustainable access to local materials, processes, and education.
“What I Would Do,” by Sophie Pearson
Her work has been shown globally, and she has received accolades such as the City of Boston’s Un-Monuments: Re-Monuments Public Art Research + Development Grant, a Newell Flather Award for Emerging Leadership in Public Art, and a Next Level Aerosol Residency with Meridian International and Manarat Al Saadiyat Museum in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Amora is a self-taught artist whose paintings interweave radiant colors and grungy vibes. Drawing from a background in fashion design, she selects color palettes that capture deep emotion. Her work brings mental and physical health issues to the forefront.
As a burn survivor, she has learned the complexities of transforming pain into beauty, and her art is inspired by her own grapplings with mental health, female resilience, and the perplexities of human experience. A Worcester-based artist, she has contributed to the city’s growing arts community with her business, The Rose Realm. Her recognizably styled artwork has been featured in several art shows.
The gallery is open Wednesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays 1-5 p.m. For more information, contact the gallery at Gallery@worcester.edu or 508-929-8651, or go to wsuvpagallery.com.
Top photo: Jennessa Burks, photo courtesy of Mary Cosgrove Dolphin Gallery
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