Works by UW–Madison MFA candidates Fatemeh Fani and Swan Ferraro were recognized at the Wisconsin Artists Biennial, which took place Feb. 7–April 19 at the Museum of Wisconsin Art (MOWA).
Fani received the Lee Weiss Award, which recognizes a first-time exhibitor, for “Endless Mourning,” a personal archival photograph. An immigrant to the United States from Iran, Fani uses photography to capture “the essence of America through the lens of an outsider,” according to her website. Her archival work also aims to challenge “the concept of mandatory hijab and the stolen identity of Iranian women.”
Ferraro received a Merit Award for “Pretty Boy,” a work that reflects on the trans experience. “I am constantly mistaken as a woman, so I made ‘Pretty Boy’ to reflect on the reality of being just that, a pretty boy,” they say. “I bent fresh flowers into letters and let them dry for weeks. The process is a reflection on the relationship between humans and nature.”
Ferraro says the piece marks the beginning of a larger body of work involving “real flower poems.”
Since 2014, MOWA has been the permanent home of the Wisconsin Artists Biennial, one of the oldest recurring art competitions in the country.
Nearly 500 artists submitted more than 1,200 works this year, according to MOWA. Ultimately, 52 works by 50 artists were selected. The museum notes that the exhibition represents both geographic diversity and a wide range of media, bringing together established artists alongside a strong cohort of newcomers.
Learn more about the Wisconsin Artists Biennial.