Ayana Evans

I am thinking of using my older installations to influence my...

yanahandbags — Thu, 23 May 2013 12:56:09 -0400

I am thinking of using my older installations to influence my new work. Merge the large installations with performance/relational art. Titles for above work in order:

(Top) “Girl Laughing” on right, “I Love You” on left

“Always” plaster acrylic, panties

“I am Planning to Worship You” , mixed media

“Hairy Pussy” on chair, “Shuckin and Jivin” on right

“My Husband Left Me For a White Woman” oil on canvas. lol proof that I can paint. Note: In real life I was never married.

I attended the Armory Show Preview last night and while I...

yanahandbags — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 15:39:35 -0500

I attended the Armory Show Preview last night and while I didn’t fall in love with a new gallery (Frankly, I thought the Contemporary Pier was less interesting than it was in 2012)… I did enjoy myself. I particularly liked watching Rashaad Newsome’s piece Shade Compositions (pictured above) with artists present. This easily drew a large crowd at the Marlborough Chelsea booth. Overall trends that I saw: solo booth presentations, neon signs, stripes in both painting and sculpture, over exposed photography, and paint is thickening up again. —Paintings shown at Volta and the Armory were generally more watery in 2012. I guess the super watery stuff sold; now a new look is needed. I get it.

See some of these trends above in Rochelle Fientstein’s paintings from On Stellar Rays / Higher Pictures booth #909.

New Operation Catsuit Video #4! We went to the Lower East Side...

yanahandbags — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 17:05:32 -0500

New Operation Catsuit Video #4!

We went to the Lower East Side of NYC this time… hmmm It wasn’t what we excepted.

Video #3: Here we go again! Cat-suited-up. Post Modern Black?...

yanahandbags — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 11:03:00 -0400

Video #3: Here we go again! Cat-suited-up. Post Modern Black? …Chelsea was rough. This was the hardest neighborhood of them all to film in. I give candid response at the end of this video. I am told many of these questions are items of interest to viewers.

Project Info: Operation Catsuit is a performance series in which Brown University grad Ayana Evans wears a neon zebra print body stocking to various art events across New York City. At each event friends of the artist secretly video tape the reaction of patrons in the galleries and around the surrounding neighborhoods.

Where to buy video outfit: www.butchdiva.com and www.yanahandbags.com
Tweet: @yana_handbags
Like: www.facebook.com/YANAHandbags

Highsnobette.com Blogged About My Project: Operation Catsuit

yanahandbags — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 10:57:07 -0400

Highsnobette.com Blogged About My Project: Operation Catsuit:

“Dear friend to HighSnobette, designer and artist Ayana Evans launched a performance art project this past summer, examining the intersection between sexuality and art, and what we mean by art are the actual patrons of the culture.

Evans wore a neon tiger catsuit to various gallery events in the City (Chelsea is above, which Evans described as “rough”) during the summer and examined the response to her outfit, eliciting a whole host of complicated questions like what behavior is okay when it comes to responding to a woman’s physical form? What if she’s wearing something form fitting and strikingly bright AND she has an admittedly above-average sized butt and small waist? Are side comments ok? What about picture taking?

Responses to the project are made further complex by Evans’ identity as a black woman attending events that are almost entirely populated by white folks. What’s also fascinating is the different responses at different locations, which an exhausted Evans breaks down at the end of the video. Lots to examine and think about!”

Video #2—Milk Studios, NYC! It’s interesting to see...

yanahandbags — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:16:00 -0400

Video #2—Milk Studios, NYC!

It’s interesting to see how a part fashion/part art crowd reacts…

Well the first video from Operation Catsuit is up!! I went to...

yanahandbags — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 13:43:06 -0400

Well the first video from Operation Catsuit is up!! I went to the Museum of Modern Art and friends recorded patron reactions. Watch it here… and “Keep in mind that I’m an artist and I’m sensitive about my shit”—Erykah Badu

I attended the Yayoi Kusama Retrospective Exhibition Opening...

yanahandbags — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 13:19:00 -0400

I attended the Yayoi Kusama Retrospective Exhibition Opening Reception at The Whitney Museum of American Art on July 11, 201…I was thrilled to wear my Butch Diva catsuit and Yana hustler fanny pack. ‘Operation Catsuit/The Follow Me Project’ continues and I am pleased to say the Whitney crowd was COMPLETELY thrilled to have a neon catsuit in the building! Popular comment of the evening: “I wished more people had dressed like you.” And special hellos to the man that growled at me all night… it was waaay more funny than it sounds here!

—Edited videos of this performance project of me at various art venues with friends secretly taping patron reactions will be up in 3 weeks!

www.yanahandbags.com

Operation Catsuit: This is an on-going performance piece which...

yanahandbags — Mon, 21 May 2012 22:24:00 -0400

Operation Catsuit: This is an on-going performance piece which studies how how who I am physically affects perception of me as a woman in the art world. (It’s also my first venture into performance art so CLAP DARN YOU. CLAP LOUD)

I almost forgot to post these lovely photos from the “Itsa...

yanahandbags — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:36:58 -0400

I almost forgot to post these lovely photos from the “Itsa Small, Small World” show at Family Business. My good friend, Gina Im, of Office Tramp and Gallerina Diaries, and I were participants in this show. I love the curator, Hennessy Youngman’s, conceptual idea of letting ANYONE who applied into the show until he literally ran out of space. (and in case you did not know this meant that over 500 artist’s works were squeezed into a 125 square foot gallery store front!)

The show was an art happening… not just an opening. Can you say awesome block party? Spank Rock performed and I am still geeking over meeting my heroes Maurizio Cattelan and Marylin Mintor… Don’t I look happy just talking to them?

It comes down April 16th, so take a look if you have time 520 W. 21ST ST.
NY, NY.

My new website is up! (Proud moment!) Please visit...

yanahandbags — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 19:02:20 -0400

My new website is up! (Proud moment!) Please visit www.yanahandbags.com to see the latest “Art Bags” my company has available. More fashion meets art is also available at www.yanahandbags.tumblr.com

Note: A portion of all proceeds go to local charities including the American Cancer Society and Brotherhood Sister-Sol.org

“The Yellow Mask is Always Me”, Dec 2011, paper maché, plaster,...

yanahandbags — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:16:00 -0500

“The Yellow Mask is Always Me”, Dec 2011, paper maché, plaster, acrylic, hair weave, dry cleaning paper, sequins and fabric; 9” X 37”.

“Red”, June 2010, acrylic, oil, feathers, beads, and paper...

yanahandbags — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:02:00 -0500

“Red”, June 2010, acrylic, oil, feathers, beads, and paper mache, 11” X 16”

“He Wants to Have Sex With You”, wall installation, acrylic,...

yanahandbags — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:01:00 -0500

“He Wants to Have Sex With You”, wall installation, acrylic, oil, personal artifacts, and baked paper; 50” X 40”.

“Jabari”, Dec. 2011, paper maché, plaster, wood...

yanahandbags — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:00:00 -0500

“Jabari”, Dec. 2011, paper maché, plaster, wood varnish, my brother’s shirt & hat, back stage pass, and I Heart Yana pin.8.5” X26”.

“You Playin Games”, Aug 2011, wall installation, acrylic, oil,...

yanahandbags — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:36:38 -0500

“You Playin Games”, Aug 2011, wall installation, acrylic, oil, personal artifacts, and glitter; 40” X 45”.

“The Couple”, August 2011, paper maché, plaster,...

yanahandbags — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:36:00 -0500

“The Couple”, August 2011, paper maché, plaster, acrylic, corn oil, varnish, 10” X 13.5” each. This is a detail shot of the masks featured in “You Playin’ Games” installation. (They can be displayed alone in this manner)

1. Detail Photo, “I Wanna Have Sex With You”, wall...

yanahandbags — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:34:32 -0500

1. Detail Photo, “I Wanna Have Sex With You”, wall installation, acrylic, oil, personal artifacts, and baked paper; 50” X 40”.

Detail photo from“You Playin Games”, Aug 2011, wall...

yanahandbags — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:32:36 -0500

Detail photo from“You Playin Games”, Aug 2011, wall installation, acrylic, oil,pencil, hair accessory age 7, resume from my intern 3” X 4.5”.

“If You Don’t Respect…”, March 2010,...

yanahandbags — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:28:00 -0500

“If You Don’t Respect…”, March 2010, paper maché, foam, tinsel,acrylic, fabric flowers.