Current Exhibition

About the Juror: Gina Ienopoli

Artist Prompt: Folklore from various cultures shares captivating stories during gatherings or at bedtime, passing down moral lessons to each generation. Native Filipinos tell tales of mythical beings such as the Tiyanak, a deceptive shape-shifting creature who mimics a crying baby to entice compassionate individuals deeper into the jungle, and the Diwata, beautiful guardian spirits of forests and mountains who can either bless or curse someone based on their treatment of nature. The Tikyanak stories warn against rashness and emphasize the dangers of the unknown, while the Diwata stories advocate respect towards the Earth and one’s environment. In your own world or using your own culture, create a mythical creature that inhabits its own environment and convey a backstory that imparts a lesson, incorporating visual elements to explain this throughout your work.

Artist Bio: Gina Ienopoli, born in 1997 on Long Island, New York, pursued her studies at The Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC from 2015 to 2019. Skills ranging from graphic design and product photography to mural painting and film photography, Ienopoli’s eclectic practice explores the surrealist realm while adhering to a dark aesthetic. The artist’s stylistic choices reflect her ambition to portray dark, moody themes in a vibrant or confrontational manner for the viewer. During her time in school, she was shortlisted for the Sony World Photography Awards for her notable piece, “The Idealist,” a portrait of a woman blowing out a birthday candle while having icing for hair. This photograph was showcased at Somerset House in London, alongside works from other esteemed photographers around the world. Additionally, her photography series titled “Abandoned” and the photograph “Feeling Alive,” which explores urban decay throughout desolate buildings, has received numerous recognitions over the years from the Adobe Design Achievement Awards, Juxtapoz’s High Art, Holy Apostles Gallery, and The Patchogue Arts Council. Since 2022, Ienopoli has been residing and working in New York City, concentrating on freelance projects and her small punk merchandise business “Ghouligans”.