Bio

Francena 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

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     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