opening reception with the artist: Friday Oct. 13, 6-9pm
“Innerconnectivity I” is the inaugural debut of Rayelle’s thesis work, “Innerconnectivity.” It consists of a series of expansive installations featuring large abstract sculptures that explore what the body has been withholding from present consciousness through transcendental creation. The inaugural solo exhibition, “Innerconnectivity I”, utilizes organic materials and viscera to delve into Rayelle’s upbringing up to the present day, celebrating the redemption and aftermath of trauma through an interpersonal lens of connection.
Each sculpture is autobiographical, shaped organically in congruence with what Rayelle saw within her autonomous body when reliving these moments of the past. The symbolic organs, meticulously handcrafted with textiles, latex, and used bed sheets, represent the energy released within, carrying the weight of forgotten memories and emotions. For example, the repetitive motif of the tumor seen throughout “Innerconnectivity I” serves as a representation of the emotional "stuckholds" leading to a lack of connection in the present - “it feels as though the traumas are tumors - siphoning vitality from both ends.”
“Innerconnectivity I” not only piques curiosity but also raises questions about our interaction with these visceral elements—what it means to engage with them, confront fear, and ponder the intricacies of psychosocial development, both as an individual and as a community.
about the artist
Kenzi Rayelle is an interdisciplinary artist, gaining recognition for her fascination with the body and its organic materials as well as her exploration of the absurd. Rayelle, deeply inspired by practical effects and psychosocial development theory, has developed a unique and tongue-in-cheek approach to representing the impact of trauma.
Rayelle possesses a keen sensitivity to the versatile and unrestricted potential of textiles, film, and the written word. She views them as additional gateways from the subconscious mind to the hands. Through transcendental creation, her work serves as a form of personal healing, and her aspiration is for it to be transformative to those who encounter it.
Rayelle continues to work on her lifelong thesis, "Innerconnectivity," which comprises of a series of expansive installations that delve into what the body has kept hidden from present consciousness. In addition Rayelle will be releasing her short film “caake”, an absurdist autobiographical exploration about the creative process in 2024.
Kenzi Rayelle received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Printmaking from the University of Iowa and currently lives and works in Milwaukee, WI. She also likes frogs.
@riotrayelle
Kenzi Rayelle was awarded the Mary Nohl Suitcase Fund to support this exhibition.