Untitled (Photo Album), 2014 by Groana Melendez

Throughout history, queer people have transcended biological and social norms to redefine family. Too often discarded by our own kinfolk, we seek refuge in the comfort of our peers. Referred to as ‘chosen families,’ these bonds reinvent roles of support, teaching, and kinship- consequently reshaping definitions of parenting, marriage, and relationships for queer and non-queer people alike.

CHOSEN aims to depict the love, tenderness, strength, and sincerity provided by chosen families, while celebrating the queer community’s progress toward dismantling constrictive heteronormative standards and broadening the definition of family for society at large.

Untitled is an image of the artist’s family album. Part of the series El Nombre Mío, Ajeno, an exhibition of photographs, videos and other lens-based work. In this work, Groana creates an understanding of the interconnectedness of relationships, class and identity. The title originates from the poem, El Apellido/My Last Name, by Nicolás Guillén, a Cuban poet who worked towards creating a synthesis between ancestries and different cultures. The line loosely translates as “my foreign name” which denotes the history of colonization and the fractured identities that resulted.

25% of the proceeds will go to the Leslie Lohman Museum - the only dedicated LGBTQ art museum in the world with a mission to exhibit and preserve LGBTQ art and foster the artists who create it.

Size: 9" x 7" or 18" x 14"

Medium: Moab Slickrock Metallic Pearl: a mid-weight, museum-quality paper with a smooth, matte surface.

Framing: Unframed, Black, or White (Custom framing options available. Email help@trnk-nyc.com for more info.)

Framed Mat Style: Full Bleed (Art extends to edge of frame)

Edition Size: 100 or 20 (depending on the size)

Year of Original: 2014

Authentication: Certificate of Authenticity signed by the Founder of TRNK.

Print Dimensions: Variable

Frame Width: 1"

Frame Depth: 2 1/4"

Paper Type: Moab Slickrock Metallic Pearl 260

Frame: Wood & 99% UV Acrylic

Framed Matting Style: Full Bleed

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