Join us at Moudy Gallery on Tuesday, October 12th from 12-1pm for a Curator Talk for Sequential Self! Curators Iris Bechtol and Lynné Bowman Cravens will discuss the process of curating the exhibition, as well as the work of the twelve artists in the show. This event is FREE and open to everyone, it is not limited to TCU students. Masks are required at this event and in all indoor spaces at TCU.

About the Curators

Iris Bechtol is an artist, educator, and curator living in Oak Cliff – Dallas, TX. With a passion for sharing the work of Texas based artists, her curatorial practice carefully considers exhibition projects as they reflect the community. Creating access through education, her projects present diverse perspectives in a platform that combines exhibitions with engaging discussions, workshops, and lectures. She received her Master of Fine Arts in Intermedia from the University of Texas at Arlington and is currently the Cultural Programs Coordinator directing gallery exhibitions at the Oak Cliff Cultural Center in Oak Cliff - Dallas, TX. Bechtol was a member of Texas’ oldest artist collaborative, 500X Gallery from 2001-2005. She is founder and curator for Terrain Dallas, a temporary public exhibition space with a focus on exhibiting site specific, temporary interventions by established and emerging artists in and around the landscape of a suburban front yard. www.irisbechtol.com

Lynné Bowman Cravens is the Gallery Manager at The Art Galleries at Texas Christian University. She is also a fine art photographer working in an interdisciplinary method. Through meticulous physical distortions and transdisciplinary techniques Cravens creates photographic pieces that address her personal experiences, identity, and physical form. She received her BA in Photocommunications from St. Edward’s University, and her MFA in Photography from the University of North Texas. Her work has been featured in multiple publications, and has exhibited nationally and internationally. Cravens is currently working on a large-scale public art commission for the City of Fort Worth Public Art Program. www.lynnecravens.com

The Art Galleries at TCU are proud to present Sequential Self: Gender and Identity in Comics, focusing on artists in the genre of comics. This exhibition showcases twelve artists whose work illuminates the complexity and intersectionality of gender and identity through autobiographical, historical, and fantastical narratives. Sequential Self: Gender and Identity in Comics will be on-view at Moudy Gallery from September 30 – October 21, 2021, with an opening reception on Thursday, September 30th from 5-7pm, hosted outdoors in the Moudy courtyard.

Sequential Self: Gender and Identity in Comics features works by Rebecca Artemisa, Trinidad Escobar, Ashanti Fortson, Melanie Gillman, Levi Hastings, Christine Mari, Erin Nations, Kosmo X. Parker, Jules Scheele, Christine Suggs, Sunmi, and Antoinette Thomas. This exhibition is curated by artists Iris Bechtol, Cultural Programs Coordinator, Oak Cliff Cultural Center, and Lynné Bowman Cravens, Gallery Manager, The Art Galleries at TCU.

At the heart of Sequential Self is a love of comics and a desire to share the visual and written narrative of artists working in the genre. Mainstream comics have often favored cisgender white male voices, while creators who do not identify as such have remained at the fringes. However, in recent years there has been a steady turn towards inclusivity in both mainstream and indie comics, showcasing stories reflecting a variety of experiences, voices, and identities. As diverse creators have flourished and gained more followers, it is important that their voices are amplified and celebrated.

Comics can offer the viewer an intimate connection with artists and stories being told that goes beyond other artforms. The artists featured in Sequential Self share personal and honest stories of self-discovery, explore cultural histories and ancestral roots, delve into the multidimensional aspects of sexuality and gender, navigate mental health and physical disabilities, address race and identity, and look back through history to explore unseen narratives. Their sophisticated storytelling, character development, and strong illustrative styles invite readers into snippets of their personal experiences or worlds that mirror real life.