BFA Exhibitions

Rayona Reynolds

“…I have always had a soft appreciation for delicate and sometimes grotesque, tiny creatures and know many others do not share my fondness for these slugs, worms and beetles. I believe that a connection and empathetic view towards tiny, insignificant creatures often leads to a more empathetic view of fellow humans…

…Oftentimes creatures of the forest imitate their surroundings with similar colors, textures and forms, in which they reside. Within my installation, I have attempted to do the same, going as far as to arrange their habitat in the shape of landmasses. Imitating nature, while bringing in the comfortability of non naturalistic materials, helps me create the ultimate indoor outdoor hybrid where humankind and the natural world meet again.”

Read Rayona’s full artist statement.

Naomi Dimsha

“…Over the last few years I have honed in on my passion and what I most enjoy creating; portraits using oil and acrylic on canvas. As a portrait painter my goal is to create a celebration of people and their beauty; both inside and out. I keep my pieces fairly simple in design, using singular color background to enhance the more subtle undertones of the painting…The smallest detail can bring a painting to life, express the deepest sadness, or the greatest joy. The main theme behind my works is a love and appreciation for the human experience. I think it is important to find beauty in the world around. Even in the current climate of the world, these paintings represent the love I have for the people around me, and their intrinsic beauty.”

Read Naomi’s full artist statement.

Emma Geary

“In this series of figurative oil paintings, I use color and form to explore the relationship between how men and women have been traditionally depicted in art and other media, and the actual reality of being a woman in a largely man-dominated world…Originally, this series started as a simple exploration in color. However, through my work with the figure and my search for models, both male and female, it evolved into a commentary about what the female body vs. the male body really means in art. In my search for reference photos, I noticed that it was considerably harder to find poses of women in these powerful and controlling poses, while it was quite easy to find males in them. On the other hand, it was quite difficult to find male figures in these submissive and closed off poses…

…I feel like I often struggle against men to make myself heard and to be seen, and I know many women who feel the same. These paintings are a way for me to express this struggle and show how it really feels to be a woman – powerful and vibrant.”

Read Emma’s full artist statement.