In Venice…Iris Project debuts “In the Center, but not Seen” by Akea Brionne Brown. The exhibition runs from May 21 to July 4, 2021. 

“In the Center, but not Seen” uses intricately staged self-portraiture to examine the overwhelming effects of racial displacement and erasure in Americana, a cultural and economic construct that continues to omit Black Americans to this day. The product of predominantly white educational and social spaces, Akea Brionne Brown makes her positionality visible using vintage American textiles, physically wrapping herself in the symbolism of historic Americana to highlight the absence of Black bodies like her own.

Brown insists that representation matters, challenging the audience to reflect on their own level of representation (or lack thereof) within the traditional canon of American imagery. This exhibition speaks to the deficit of meaningful inclusion of Black Americans, especially Black women, within the fabric of the American narrative, identity, and culture.

On view: May 21  – July 4, 2021; Appointments are no longer necessary to visit the gallery, check the website for gallery hours; A reception with the artist will be held at a later date. For all inquiries, please email info@irisproject.com

What: “In the Center, but not Seen,” Akea Brionne Brown
Where: Iris Project, 953 Amoroso Place, Venice, 90291
When: May 21  – July 4, 2021 – visit website for hours
Website: https://www.irisproject.com/