May 1st – May 30th, 2026
Location: Bisong Art Gallery 1305 Sterrett St, Houston, TX 77002
Opening Reception: May 1st, 2026 from 5:00 p.m – 8:00 p.m.
This exhibition is part of FOTOFEST 2026 BIENNALE GLOBAL VISIONS
‘Mixed/Other’ Artist Statement
‘Othered’ Art Exhibition
Artist Statement – Melissa Aytenfisu
In a world where racial mixing is increasingly accepted, the biracial experience remains a unique and underrepresented facet of our collective narrative
Othered, centers on mixed media portraiture as a way to examine the complexity and nuance of biracial identity across generations.
Each piece is constructed through a layered process that merges science, portraiture, and pattern. The base layer incorporates microscopic images of scalp skin cells from individuals of different racial backgrounds, captured in collaboration with Dr El-Zaatari in the pathology lab at Houston Methodist. These cellular landscapes ground the work in a shared biological reality. The second layer features digital portraits of biracial subjects, depicted in simple white t-shirts to remove visual hierarchy and center the individual. The final layer consists of hand-drawn zentangle patterns, intuitively rendered and woven around the figures, evoking DNA strands, genetics, and the fluidity of identity.
While the work engages serious themes of race and belonging, it also incorporates moments of playfulness and visual rhythm. This project is a testament to the power of art in shedding light on the hidden corners of our shared humanity. It’s a celebration of the diversity and unity that biracial individuals bring to the world, and an invitation for all to engage in a dialogue about the rich mosaic of our interconnected lives.
