arms ache avid aeon: Nancy Brooks Brody / Joy Episalla / Zoe Leonard / Carrie Yamaoka: fierce pussy amplified: Chapter Eight is a unique group exhibition that delves into the individual practices of longtime collaborators and members of the art collective fierce pussy. Curated by Jo-ey Tang, the show aims to showcase the artists’ solo practices while also exploring the collective identity of fierce pussy.
The exhibition features works by Nancy Brooks Brody, Joy Episalla, Zoe Leonard, and Carrie Yamaoka, with a special emphasis on their collaborative efforts as fierce pussy. One standout piece is a fierce pussy poster bearing the line “I got all my sisters with me,” a reference to the group’s history of activism and community building. This poster serves as a reminder of the collective’s roots in promoting lesbian identity through street interventions and public art projects.
What sets arms ache avid aeon apart is its lack of traditional wall labels, allowing visitors to engage with the artworks without the distraction of artist names. This intentional decision encourages viewers to focus on the visual and conceptual connections between the pieces, highlighting the artists’ shared sensibilities and creative dialogues.
The artworks on display in the exhibition are visually and texturally engaging, with each piece resonating with the others in subtle ways. Joy Episalla’s “removed: 5 skins” and Carrie Yamaoka’s “Overlay” create a dialogue between textile and resin, while Zoe Leonard’s photograph “Tree + Fence, Out My Back Window” adds a layer of complexity to the mix. The exhibition also features abstract works by Yamaoka and optical paintings by Brody, alluding to the fluidity of perception and the presence of queerness in the art.
While arms ache avid aeon does not offer easy explanations or interpretations of the artworks, it invites viewers to explore the connections between the pieces and consider the underlying relationships between the artists. By presenting fierce pussy not just as an activist group but as a close-knit community of friends and collaborators, the exhibition offers a more intimate and personal perspective on their work.
arms ache avid aeon: Nancy Brooks Brody / Joy Episalla / Zoe Leonard / Carrie Yamaoka: fierce pussy amplified: Chapter Eight is a thought-provoking exhibition that challenges viewers to look beyond the surface and uncover the hidden connections between art, activism, and community. The show is on display at Participant Inc in Lower East Side, Manhattan, until May 11, curated by Jo-ey Tang.
