Melissa Joseph is interested in connecting people through collective memory and shared experiences. Her multimedia practice addresses themes of diaspora, family histories and the politics of how individuals occupy spaces. Based in New York City, the artist has exhibited works at Lite-Haus Galerie, Berlin, Germany; The Delaware Contemporary, Wilmington, DE; Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, Omaha, NE; and REGULARNORMAL, New York, NY; among others. She is currently an artist-in-residence at Dieu Donné and the Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts Studio Program.
Aunties Inside features four of her father's sisters in India, as a visual exploration of the understated yet integral role that aunts play within the family structures of many cultures. The image, which casts the women seated together as though they were holding court, derives from a photograph taken by the artist during a visit to her grandmother's home. As in other works within her practice, Joseph's depiction is intended to inspire consideration of the ways that her chosen subjects occupy space. For the hand-embellished prints, the artist has included elements such as fabric and Indian embroidery mirrors that her aunts gifted her.
Of this series benefitting Destination Tomorrow, she notes, "I know how important it is to have safe spaces where you live, and I am proud to support an organization that is working to protect and to empower marginalized people. Black and brown trans kids and adults need extra protection."
Melissa Joseph
Aunties Inside, 2021
17.25 x 24 inches
Archival pigment print
Limited Edition of 10
Hand-embellished, signed, and numbered by the artist
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