In bittersweet, a national group exhibition, the featured artists present work that considers wellness and self-care in an ever-evolving world. This show is juried by Vanessa Leroy, a photographer and photo editor based in Massachusetts.

A.M. Disher, whose sculpture (Manic) Depressive (When the Party’s Over) is on view, makes work through the lens of the social and psychological impact of suppressing queer identity. Their focus is on the intersection of mental health and the queer experience of moving through the world. In Unclear Etiology, Amy Giese, documenting recent developments of a chronic illness, uses the imperfect tool of 3-D LiDAR scanning to reflect the inaccuracies and gaps in information that are created when trying to build a model of herself. Tavon Taylor, a photographer who finds strength in vulnerability, explores concepts of beauty, masculinity, intimacy, and community through detailed and delicate imagery. 

Themes of identity, memory, illness, mental health, climate change, body image, human connection, mindfulness, and more are all on view in this exhibition. Utilizing sculpture, painting, photography, video, illustration, fiber art, installation, mixed media, and book art, the artists in bittersweet share intimate views of trauma, healing, and self-care.

Featured Artists

Alina Balseiro, Crystal Bi, Luccas Booth, Virginia Cannella, Caleb Clemente, Merill Comeau, Aubrey Davis, A.M. Disher, Drew Eastwood, Jon Feinstein, Amy Giese, Isabelle Gotuaco, Jacklynn Kelsey, Souha M.Y., Catherine Nelson, Sophie Pearson, Maritza Ranero, Heather Sabian, Danyang Song, Tavon Taylor, David Whelan, Christy Wittmer, Yolanda Yang, Wenxin Zhao

About the Juror

Vanessa Leroy (b. 1996) is a freelance photographer and photo editor based in Boston, Massachusetts. She holds a BFA in Photography from Massachusetts College of Art and Design. She remains on the hunt for new ways of seeing, remembering, and altering the world through photography. She is drawn to image-making because of the power it holds to create nuanced representation for marginalized people and uplift their stories. She sees photography as a tool for social justice, and with it, she hopes to create worlds that people feel as though they can enter and draw from, as well as provide a look into an experience that they may not personally recognize.

Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, STAT News, Bloomberg, and exhibited at Gallery Kayafas in Boston, MA — where she is represented.