THREADS OF IDENTITY
ALEHNA TAYLOR

May 2nd - June 18th
Opening Reception: May 2nd, 7PM

This project is an evaluation of identity in a small queer fragment in Denver, CO. When I was younger, I suffered with constant panic attacks and depression while I discovered the layers of my identity and what it means being a lesbian woman. Then within my community of queer folx, seeing how each person seemed to navigate their own identity so confidently. I sought to explore how they understand their identities, aiming to examine what can help define my own identity through them. This project serves as an acknowledgment of the influences others had in my self-discovery as well as it is self-exploratory, focused on capturing the journey that others undertake. I had volunteers respond to questions about their origins and self-perception. Their answers and the choices in their clothing and poses they had while I took their reference photos, served as identity expressions, and through these I observed the dichotomy in how we want to be perceived outwardly and how we are perceived by others. Using oil paint, I centered portraits on fabric canvases that I believe best represented them. I chose paint colors based on how I saw their energy and finished each portrait when it conveyed my interpretation of their self-expression.

Ultimately though, interpretation lies with the viewer. This project unveils a process of identity, emphasizing the desire for us all to be to be perceived as intended and our subjectivity to the perspectives of an artist and their audience.

“I am a queer oil painter based in Denver, CO, using my art as a mirror to reflect my personal journey and the intricacies of identity. My self-portraits are a way to dive deep into the struggles tied to body image. I navigate the challenges of existing in a larger body and the complexities of self-image. Along with my self-portraits, I focus on painting people within my community, and the delicate nature of inward and outward perception. Portraiture is at the heart of my artistic exploration. I aim to capture moments in time, painting of individuals in their essence. Serving as a timestamp of who they are to me at that particular moment in time.

Currently, my focus is on painting portraits of others, exploring their identity. I use fabric as a canvas, symbolizing the multifaceted threads that construct one's perception of self. These portraits are to show the multi-layered facets and perceptions of an individual and their audience.

Through my art, I invite viewers to unravel the layers of identity, challenging them to read between the strokes and threads. Each portrait is a narrative—a fusion of brushstrokes, fabric, and personal interpretation. The audience becomes an integral part of this artistic conversation, contributing their own understanding and interpretation of the portrayed identity. My art seeks not only to capture the individuals but also to stimulate dialogue and introspection about how we perceive ourselves and others. It's an invitation to explore the diversity, complexity, and beauty of identity through the lens of art.” - Alehna Taylor

Have questions? Write us an email at info@recreativedenver.org