Bio
Francena Poyo-Ottley is a Dominican- American, New York based Textile Artist, Photographer, Installation Artist, and Mother. Her work consists of using different mediums to create narrative pieces that focus on empowering people of color and uses her art as a tool for visual activism. Her goal is to always make work that speaks to people, empowers people, and shares knowledge while always remaining authentic.
Education
2019
BFA - Photography and Video, School of Visual Arts, NYC
Exhibitions
Curation
2019
Curator for 2019 Black Art Matters blog on Ello
Solo Exhibitions
2018
Mayoridad (Coming of Age) at The Living Gallery Outpost in NYC
2017
She Tells Me… An Interactive Experience at Disclaimer Gallery in NYC
2016
Our Perceived Limitations at School of Visual Arts in NYC
Group Exhibitions
2024
Painting at Night with Collar Works and Artist Mother Podcast at Opalka Galley in Albany, NY
Reclamation: Narratives of Space, History and Culture with Ma’s House at Southampton History Museum in NY
Visions of Self with Yosemite Sierra Artists (Online exhibition)
2023
While We Are Dreaming with Visionary Projects at The Yard Flatiron & Gowanus in NY
Love Hurts at Girls Who Paint in Kensington, MD
Procreate Project Archive at The Old Firestation in Oxford, UK
2022
Free To Be at The Plaxall Gallery at CultureLABLIC in NYC
2021
Becoming at SVA Gramercy Gallery
Commissary's Black History Month Exhibition in New Paltz, NY
2020
Protect Black Womxn for Soho Social Impact in NYC
2019
The Rewrite for PULSE Art Fair in Miami
19.5% with Little Berlin Gallery in Philadelphia, PA
Senior Thesis Show at School of Visual Arts in NYC
SKIN with Curated by Girls and Pornceptual in Berlin, Germany
First Thursdays Spotlight Series with Adidas Originals and Creative Debuts in Shoreditch, London
Nasty Women Exhibition 2019 with Nasty Women Portugal in Lisbon, Portugal
Fashion Photography Exhibition with Downtown Arts Collective in Orlando, FL
Black History Month Exhibition at School of Visual Arts in NYC
2018
Constellations at SVA Chelsea Gallery in NYC
Empowerment with Creative Debuts and Nasty Women in Shoreditch, London
2017
This is Permanent at School of Visual Arts in NYC
Posture x Ello Issue 04 Release Party at Superchief Gallery in NYC
The Future is (Black) Femme at ATYPE in NYC
Becoming Shades at SVA Flatiron Gallery in NYC
Black History Month Exhibition at School of Visual Arts in NYC
Whitney Houston Biennial at Chashama in NYC
Say Her Name: Being Here and Now at School of Visual Arts in NYC
Genius Loves Company at Art Gallery Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Building in NYC
2016
Seat of Heritage for NYC Art Grind Event in NYC
Our Perceived Limitations for Planet X NYC Art Grind All Female Artist Event in NYC
Aisha Abdulkadiri for Freshman Show at School of Visual Arts in NYC
Retrospect for Collaboration in Art Group Show in NYC
Bronx Art Space Exhibition in NYC
2015
Sky High for Photographic Society of America Youth Showcase in New Mexico
Publications
The Birth of a Black Mother for Issue 5: Motherhood of Spoken Black Girl Magazine
Puesta De Sol for Issue 4: Wild Things of Workhorse Collective
Stitched for :bodies Issue 3 of Creatures Mag
La Curacíon (The Healing) for Promises for You column of Raising Mothers
A Morena's Story for Having a Nosey Issue 1: The Activism & Empowerment Issue (Cover & Feature)
Feature in Like a Girl Issue 05
Mayoridad (Coming of Age) published in JaamZIN Creative Magazine
Feature in SHEER Magazine
Mayoridad (Coming of Age) published on Refinery29 UK
Mayoridad (Coming of Age) published on Girl Gaze
Mayoridad (Coming of Age) published on Curated by GIRLS
Elektra published in Rebelle Magazine
Wallets That Pull Double-Duty published on Refinery29
Pleasures published on Extra Butter NY
A Morena's Story published in Sukeban Magazine
The Rewrite published in #PHOTOGRAPHY Magazine
How to Survive As A Black Women published in Visual Opinion Vol. 24 Issue 1 Open
Our Perceived Limitations published in Visual Opinion Vol. 23 Issue 2 Voice
Las Verdades published in Visual Opinion Vol. 22 Issue 4 Identity
Queens Art Intervention: Dwelling in Partner with Deborah Wasserman’s Hospitality at Queens Museum
Awards
2020-21 The Charla Fund with U.S. Latinx Art Forum
2019 SVA Alumni Society Scholarship
3rd Place Award in Photojournalism at 2014 Photographic Federation of Long Island Youth Showcase
Press
HypeAllergic Times Union
View of the Arts VillageVoice BedfordandBowery
Nylon theFourohFive Bust Voice of NY
Drool Ello Hype Caribbean Mag TimesLedger Boston Globe
Art Slant Chocolate Informed Art Rabbit Modern Ghana