Trina Merry "Unity"
Trina Merry "Unity" 2012
Photograph
Dimensions: 12in x 18in
Limited Edition of 200
Signed and numbered on verso by artist, includes gallery label and certificate of authenticity
Trina Merry is an internationally acclaimed bodypaint and performance artist known for transforming the human form into living works of art. Blurring the lines between painting, sculpture, and photography, her work explores themes of identity, visibility, and autonomy through ephemeral, site-specific interventions.
Merry’s art has been exhibited at prestigious institutions such as the Whitney Museum of American Art (2017 Biennial), the Getty Villa (Bodies of Evidence, 2019), and the San Jose Museum of Art (Momentum, 2015). Her performances and bodypaint sculptures have also been showcased at Spring/Break Art Show (2019) and the Watermill Center. Her work has been featured in major media outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, TIME Magazine, The Washington Post, and The Hollywood Reporter, as well as leading art publications such as ArtNews, Artnet, Hyperallergic, Juxtapoz, and My Modern Met. Through large-scale public performances, high-profile collaborations, and thousands of painted bodies worldwide, Merry uses the impermanence of bodypainting to challenge perceptions of self and society. Her immersive approach confronts issues of objectification, power, and resistance, engaging audiences in dialogue about the body as both subject and canvas.
Her participation in UPRISE 2025: The Art of Resistance continues her commitment to art as activism, reclaiming space, and challenging societal norms through bold, visually striking performances that make the unseen visible.
“My work explores the human form as both canvas and concept—transforming bodies into living sculptures that challenge visibility, identity, and autonomy. Through body painting and performance, I confront themes of objectification, control, and the tension between personal agency and societal expectations. In a time when civil rights, bodily autonomy, and freedom of expression are under attack, my art serves as an act of defiance—a reclaiming of space, presence, and voice. By blending performance with ephemeral, illusionistic body painting, I create work that forces audiences to reconsider what is seen, unseen, and erased in our cultural and political landscapes. For UPRISE 2025, I contribute to the ongoing resistance against systems that seek to diminish human rights. Whether camouflaging bodies into contested spaces or embodying activism, my work challenges viewers to reflect on power, representation, and the radical act of being visible. Through this exhibition, I stand alongside artists using art as activism, fueling dialogue, and imagining a future where justice, equality, and creative expression thrive.” - Trina Merry
Learn More about Trina Merry and her exhibitions with The Untitled Space on our website