Join us on Thursday, August 1 at noon for a virtual Alumni Artist Talk with Jay Katelansky ’13. Katelansky will discuss her creative journey and current projects, including her exhibition in the Alumni Gallery, on view from July 20 through September 28.
Jay Katelansky, an interdisciplinary artist in Maryland, explores the intersections of identity and space. With a BFA from Moore College of Art & Design and MA and MFA degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Katelansky delves into how Black bodies navigate and negotiate safety in the United States. Her current work investigates the concept of safety—whether it's a place, a person, or an unattainable condition—posing probing questions about who gets to experience it and what it truly means.
Central to Katelansky's practice is an exploration of text and literature, which underpins her creative process whether overtly present or subtly woven into her works. Drawing inspiration from craft, sounds, and poetry, as well as everyday objects like billboards that reshape their environments, she is particularly drawn to the historical and contemporary impacts of disco on queer and Black communities. Her recent focus includes an examination of Gloria Gaynor's anthem "I Will Survive," illuminating its enduring relevance amidst ongoing social disparities and violence.
Through her art, Katelansky invites viewers to reconsider familiar narratives and spaces, offering a nuanced perspective that resonates beyond the visual into profound questions of belonging and resilience.
Image: Jay Katelansky ’13, Banner for Survival 3, 2023. Credit: Jim Escalante
