BOHDANNA KESALA: DECODING THREADS OF MEMORY

July 26 – August 31, 2024

Artists’ Reception: Saturday, August 10, 4 – 6 pm

Oakland Art Murmur / First Friday: August 2, 5 – 9 pm

Mercury 20 Gallery is pleased to present 2024 Juried Award Show Winner, Bohdanna Kesala’s work in the Backroom Gallery.

As a first-generation Ukrainian-American, Bohdanna Kesala was often told she was Ukrainian while everyone else was American, leaving her longing to fit in. Today, she cherishes her unique upbringing, steeped in a culture rich with history and tradition. A significant part of this tradition included wearing blouses and decorating homes with Ukrainian embroidery. Ukrainian embroidery is a code; each pattern is linked to a specific region of Ukraine and the colors hold meaning. This series of paintings is Kesals’s reflection on her childhood, an exploration of her ancestors, traditions, and the painful reality that her heritage is now being devastated by war.