Francena Ottley

Mayoridad (Coming of Age)

Photographs, video, painting, sculptures, embroidery, silkscreen menstrual pads

"Mayoridad, coming of age, is an interactive installation highlighting a fantasy teenage bedroom while capturing the emotion of the past. Mayoridad, puts the experience of growing up as a young woman of color on display. It serves as a rite of passage, a guide to the unknown.

From my own battles with sexual abuse, racism, childhood, and now my journey to and through motherhood dealing with prenatal depression, lack of proper prenatal care and so much more. It’s what connects me to other women. It empowers myself as well as my subjects to know that we are a community, a sisterhood, we all share similar experiences and can understand each other in a way that others might not. It pushes me to know the importance of my work in today's political and social climate and help to bring about change."

– Francena Ottley

About the artist

Francena Ottley

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.

Ottley graduated from the School of Visual Arts in New York with a BFA in Photography and Video. She has exhibited nationally and internationally, including Miami Basel, London with Creative Debuts, with Adidas for International Women's Day, Nasty Women in Portugal, the Whitney Houston Biennial at Chashama in NYC, a group show in Berlin, Germany and more. Her work has been published by Refinery29, Girl Gaze, Having a Nosey, Extra Butter, and received press from Nylon, Hyperallergic, and the Village Voice, among others.