“In my family, especially in Black households, we’re taught not to express grand emotions publicly,” Irene Antonia Diane Reece says. “It’s something my father and grandmother always emphasized: ‘Don’t be falling over the casket when I’m gone.’
“The title of this show reflects the complexity of grief and the beauty of expressing it fully.”
“Don’t Cry for Me When I’m Gone,” open now through March 6 at Women & Their Work, explores identity, memory, and the intersection of the Houston native’s Black and Mexican heritage. Deeply personal and socially resonant, Reece’s work draws on familial and cultural experiences to construct an evocative narrative.
The centerpiece of the exhibit is a series of photographic portraits and mixed-media installations that delve into the artist’s family history. While exploring the themes of love, loss, and the enduring strength of cultural identity, her artwork often juxtaposes archival imagery with contemporary elements, creating a dialogue between the past and present.
“When I work with archives, I feel like I’m bringing my ancestors back to life,” Reece says. “It’s my way of saying, ‘I’ll never forget you,’ by presenting them with care and love.”
Reece’s artistic process is deeply introspective. She describes photography as a medium that allows her to “bridge gaps between personal experiences and collective memory and challenge viewers to consider how cultural identities evolve and how they are preserved through the art of storytelling.”
“I make work for me first,” she explains. “If it impacts others in my community, that’s wonderful, but it begins with my own experiences.”
The exhibit also touches on broader social issues, including the complexities of navigating dual identities in a racist society. Her work celebrates the beauty of cultural fusion while acknowledging the challenges faced by communities of color.
“I can’t separate my Black and Mexican identities in my work,” she says. “To do so would erase parts of myself and my heritage. They are intertwined, and my art reflects that.”
Reece’s creative process often involves transforming personal and cultural memories into immersive artistic experiences.
“You’ll see when you look at the show there are installation elements,” Reece notes. “I made a living room based on my great aunt’s furniture and included floral elements and archival collages from the 1920s and Thirties. It’s not just pictures on the wall – it’s an experience.”
Women & Their Work, a nonprofit gallery dedicated to showcasing innovative and progressive art by women artists, is an apt venue for this exhibit.
“We’re so pleased to have Irene Antonia Diane Reece at Women & Their Work,” Gallery Director Jordan Nelsen says. “This exhibition invites visitors to experience an intimate view of the artist’s family memories through archival images, photography, installation, and poetry. This moving show is a celebration of the beauty and complexity of grief and the Black experience, eloquently and vulnerably shared through Reece’s own lineage.”
As for Reece, she wants viewers to connect to the exhibit in an authentic and safe environment.
“I just want you to feel it is work centering the Black archives and the Black identity. So I feel like it will resonate more to that community. But I just want you to [feel] safe,” she says. “I try to make all my work feel like a sanctuary to self-express yourself. If you want to cry, you can cry. If you feel joy or warmth, that’s great. I just want you to feel, especially in a time right now where everything feels like we’re being desensitized again.”
This article appears in January 17 • 2025.