Now Showing in the RSM Art Gallery: shear pleasure by alina balseiro

The RSM Gallery is proud to premiere shear pleasure, new photography and sculpture by alina balseiro. Please join us at the opening reception on Wednesday, November 6, 5:00-7:00pm. An artist talk will start at 6:00pm.  Additionally, a special live hair-cutting performance will be held in the gallery on Sunday, November 17, at 12:00pm.  All are invited to attend both events.

shear pleasure
alina balseiro
November 6–December 20, 2024

Artist Talk and Opening Reception
Wednesday, November 6
reception 5:00–7:00pm | talk at 6:00pm
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Live hair-cutting performance
Sunday, November 17 at 12:00pm

About the Exhibit

The RSM Gallery is proud to premiere shear pleasure, new photography and sculpture by alina balseiro. Hair is deeply connected to cultural, religious and ethnic identities and has long played an integral role in how humans represent themselves. shear pleasure features portraits of balseiro, their partner, friends, and generation z collaborators sharing some of the myriad ways queer individuals use their hair as a means of self-expression, bodily autonomy, and protest of social norms. The images are highly tactile, often set in domestic spaces and foregrounding the subject. They convey the intimacy and trust of the portrait sitters and the sense of community built through the shared experience of the do-it-yourself haircuts.

SHEAR PLEASURE ARTIST STATEMENT/ ALINA BALSEIRO

the fluidity of expression, experimentation, growth, & reinvention contribute to our ever-changing reflection of identity. many individuals in the lgbtqia+ community use their hair as a way to express themselves & subvert the media’s norms. the appeal of instant reinvention satisfies cravings for change, identity affirmation, & confidence. i honor how hair intimately intersects with family, culture, & politics in addition to their lgbtqia+ identities. in each image we make together, my sitters take agency of their Queer self expression.

do-it-yourself haircuts done in the privacy of our homes emphasize the importance of community support & alternative styles. through conversation, we share experiences & develop trust with each other to produce images that are authentic to their experiences. with subtle connections to each other through charged gestures & directive gaze, each person has bonded with each other. hair styles, accessories, length, and color act as a signal to other Queer people of our generation to publicly gain a sense of unspoken community.

each sitter gives me a part of their hair & in return, i create a piece of jewelry with their hair for them to wear. the jewelry becomes a collective reflection of our shared experiences. through collaboration with Queer people in generation-z, the work empowers freedom of expression through their hair.