Beauty in the Breakdown Brittany Maldonado x IRON | FEATHER

A night of image, word, and reinvention.

Join us Thursday, April 17th at IRON | FEATHER for the opening of Beauty in the Breakdown, a solo show by our Spring Artist-in-Residence, Brittany Maldonado. The night moves in three acts: cocktail hour, a live performance of original spoken word with special guests, and a late set for lounging and elevated vibing while setting intentions for the new season. From Brittany: “It’s not about how many times you fall, it’s about how many times you rise and keep going. As humans we go through a multitude of experiences in life that have the potential to break us. And sometimes they do. The key is in letting ourselves become undone, because from that space, we are reborn. I know how much power it takes to feel what you’re feeling, and let it live in your body. To hold your hurt. I know how much struggle and jagged edges we endure in order to become soft. There’s so much beauty and vigor in the breakdown. That’s what this show is about. I want the viewer to confront their tender parts. Soft. Raw. Exposed. And be reminded. I’m still here.”

From IRON | FEATHER: At IRON | FEATHER, we believe in transformation as ritual. Whether it’s through hair, art, or conversation, we’re always chasing that raw, radiant truth. Brittany’s work is a reflection of that truth—tender, electric, and rooted in something more than the sum of its parts. We’re honored to open the season with this gathering—equal parts ritual, release, and renewal.

Evening Flow:

🌿 7PM – Cocktail Reception | Exploration

🎤 8PM – Spoken Word | Live Performance

🌒 8:30PM – Conversations | Connections

🪩 9:30PM - Celebration | Nouveau Disco Style

- BM x I|F

In celebration of The Untitled Space’s 10th anniversary, we are proud to present “UPRISE 2025: The Art of Resistance” an exhibition curated by gallery founder Indira Cesarine, which will take place during Women’s History Month this March 2025. One hundred artists have joined forces for this landmark exhibition, opening on March 8th in honor of International Women’s Day, and on view through March 29th, celebrating a decade of art, activism, and unwavering resistance at The Untitled Space. Since its inception, the gallery has featured over 50 exhibitions and presented the work of more than 500 artists—many of whom have used their platforms to inspire and empower others while speaking out against political injustice, inequality, and oppression. UPRISE 2025 continues this legacy, bringing together artists whose work confronts the challenges of today’s social and political landscape, and envisions a future rooted in justice, equality, and freedom. 

Presented in collaboration with non-profit initiative Art4Equality, the UPRISE 2025 exhibition celebrates the power of art to inspire resistance, fuel activism, and catalyze change, and will feature works that address the most pressing political, social, and cultural issues of our time. As we continue to face rising political extremism, threats to civil rights, and an increasingly authoritarian climate, UPRISE 2025 provides a platform for artists who use their work to respond, resist, and reclaim their power. 

This exhibition brings together artists of all genders from The Untitled Space’s extensive history of exhibitions, along with several new exhibitors, many of whom have used their art to address issues such as gender equality, immigration rights, reproductive justice, and social justice. With a particular focus on the ongoing struggle for women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, immigration rights, and the fight for equality across all races and genders with the attacks against DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs, the UPRISE 2025 exhibition is a declaration of resilience in the face of adversity. This powerful exhibition will explore how art serves as a vital tool for resistance and activism in the face of the current political climate. 

The collaboration with Art4Equality further amplifies the exhibition’s core themes of empowerment, equality, and social change. Together, The Untitled Space and Art4Equality highlight the importance of collective action and creative expression in the ongoing struggle for equality and human rights. Art as activism takes center stage with these critical issues explored through a variety of artistic mediums, including painting, sculpture, photography, video, installation, and performance art, ensuring a multifaceted immersive experience that invites viewers to engage directly with the artwork and the themes of resistance, equality, and freedom. 

Occuring during Lent, this group show will center around ideas about life, death, simplicity, austerity, bones, deserts, growth, sin, returns, and innocence. A mass for the artists will start at 7pm, with the reception to follow.

In honor of Women's History Month, El Barrio's Artspace celebrates the Wild Woman Archetype, an exhibition honoring the untamed, intuitive, and fiercely creative spirit of women. Inspired by the wisdom of Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés, this show explores the Wild Woman Archetype—the part of the feminine psyche that is instinctual, free-spirited, deeply connected to nature, and unapologetically authentic.

Please join me for opening night of “when the bridge called my back | breaks”. It will be on Tuesday, October 15th, from 6-9pm, at El Barrio’s Artspace PS109. I am so BEYOND excited to share this body of work with you all.

More on this series:
This series was inspired by one of my favorite books, This Bridge Called My Back, a collection of writings by radical women of color. One of the common threads in the collection is intersectionality, and how black and third world women were excluded from the first wave feminist movement. As black/brown/third world women, we are often taught to suffer in silence. To hide our pain, because we are meant to be strong. The second we show any sign of vulnerability, any crack in our armor, our views/voices/beings become invalidated. This series is about the breakdown/growth/evolution that happens in these hidden spaces.

I am having a solo show!! I will be showing 22 pieces at The 14ST Y Gallery Space. Opening night will be August 1st from 6-9:30 PM, and the show will be up for the entire month of August.

From the venue:

“Join us in the 14Y Gallery and take in visual art work, enjoy light refreshments and hear the artist speak on their work and process.

In "Piece by Piece," The artist celebrates the resilience and complexity of women through their artwork. Each piece is a testament to the strength found in vulnerability, the power in emotion, and the beauty of our shared experiences. 

The layers of Brittany’s work reflect the layers of womanhood itself—each cut, each fragment, carefully selected and placed, represents a story. From joy to sorrow, from struggle to triumph, these pieces come together to create a mosaic of empowerment. 

Through intricate collages and mixed-media compositions, the work explores the transformative journey of becoming. The jagged edges and tender moments alike are woven into each artwork, honoring the complexities of growth and self-discovery.”

RSVP here: RSVP

Join us for an electrifying evening showcasing the diverse talents of the LGBTQ+ community in a breathtaking fusion of dance, theater, spoken word, music, drag, and burlesque.

Indulge your senses as our performers take the stage, weaving tales of love, identity, and empowerment through mesmerizing choreography, poignant storytelling, and soul-stirring melodies. From heart-pounding beats to jaw-dropping transformations, every moment is a celebration of authenticity and pride.

Whether you're a seasoned enthusiast or a first-time reveler, Pride & Joy promises an experience like no other. So, gather your friends, unleash your true colors, and immerse yourself in a night of pure exhilaration!

Don't miss out on the celebration of the year – secure your tickets now for Pride & Joy: An Evening of Queer Performances!

Featuring Performances by Sitana Face, Brittany Maldonado, Dalit Ahava, Philip Gregory Burke, Nick M Daniels, Chanan Ben Simon, Edu Díaz in a Drag is Born, Justice LaBrave, Thee Suburbia, and Vixens En Garde, Queerly Femmetastic, Professor M, Gatita Negra

This performance is recommended for 18 and older and has adult content.

ASL interpretation will be provided by Inclusive Communication Services. 

To kick off PRIDE weekend, I will be live painting a mural at REISS on Bleecker street. The event will happen over two days, Thursday June 27th, and Friday June 28th from 5-8pm. There will be a DJ, refreshments, and light bites. They will also be hosting a raffle, and one of the prizes is a print from yours truly! Pop in and say hello.

Discover the rich tapestry of local talent and expression at our Celebrate Pride visual art exhibition, featuring nine dynamic visual artists showcasing their work across a diverse range of mediums and genres.  Join us in celebrating authenticity, diversity, and the power of self-expression.
Featuring work by Ariel Kleinberg, Brigid McGivern, Brittany Maldonado, Danyela J. Brown, Everest Adlerman, Kyle-Steven Porter, Jeff Oyo, Liz Schneider-Cohen, and Zach Rothman-Hicks.

So glad to be a part of the 4th annual “Women Celebrate Women” exhibition, a tribute to Women’s History Month!

Curated by Yvonne Lamar-Rogers and Rolinda Ramos, join us on opening night Wednesday, March 6th, 6-9pm at El Barrio’s Artspace PS109. The exhibit will be accessible through March 31st in the Gallery on the main level & the Lower Level.

My second book is finally here! A collection of 30 poems written in 30 days for National Poetry Month.

 So excited to be displaying a piece of work with The Openings Artist Collective for their Fall Exhibit!

Artists will be responding to this question:
How are you, as an artist, navigating, persisting, and engaging with the challenges of a global pandemic, social & political upheavals, and the struggle for justice? In your creative effort to discern the boundary between relevancy and distraction how are you cultivating and expressing the notion of a “collective pause”?

In a changed world our fall show will be a bold experiment: artists are invited to paint ephemeral murals that will be left exposed and vulnerable to the elements and the city. The exhibit will be displayed on the fence on the 60th Street side of the Church of St. Paul the Apostle.  

Artists featured include: 
Kayo Albert, Robert Aitchison, Sarah Crofts, Meg Graham, Leah Huang, Iliyan Ivanov, Debra Jenks, Marshall LaCount, Eric Jiaju Lee, Emily Long, Elim Mak,  Brittany Maldonado, Maria Maxime, Norma Markley, Lori Merhige, Erin Mcatee, Brittany Miller, Ellie Murphy, Hilary Opperman, Denise Penizzotto, Oksana Prokopenko, Frank Sabatté, Anthony Santella, Zach Seeger, Rosemary Taylor, James Vanderberg

October 18th- December 4, 2020

Reception: Sunday Oct. 18th.   1-3pm  

Exhibit curated by Jenn Cacciola, Anthony Santella, Nikki Schiro,  Robert Aitchison, Frank Sabatté

The Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV) and the Escape Artists Collective invites you to an evening dedicated to celebrating the power of art in gender-based violence prevention, healing, and advocacy!

The “Responsive Communities” exhibition will feature visual and interactive art that highlights the impacts of gender-based violence (GBV) on individuals, families, neighborhoods, and other communities. 

 This exhibit takes place during the global campaign, 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which seeks to raise awareness and inspire action at the community level to end all gender violence. Light refreshments will be served.

Join us opening night on December 5th, from 6-9pm at 215 E.99th Street, NYC.

.Eventbrite link

https://responsivecommunitiesexhibit.eventbrite.com/

I will be exhibiting my piece “Tan Bella con Tanta Soledad” at the “Body Beautiful” group show at The Untitled Space. Opening night is this Thursday, November 21st, from 6-9pm. Come through to see some amazing art!

Curatorial Statement:

“Since the emergence of social media and online activism, the body positive movement has become increasingly relevant to the contemporary dialogue of diversity and inclusion. With the emergence of body activists of the last decade addressing the negative repercussions of fat shaming, including depression, eating disorders and body dysmorphia, we have seen a dramatic shift in consciousness with fatphobia slowly going by the wayside, along with the unhealthy societal demands for bodily perfection. Body activists have emphasized in particular fat shaming as a sickness in our cultural fabric. We now live in an era where body acceptance has finally become not only an important subject, but is taken seriously as central to the human experience. This dialogue has changed the lives of many women (and men) with marginalized bodies who didn’t fit into society’s definition of beauty or feel comfortable in their own skin. Ideals of feminine beauty in particular have historically been reserved for a select few who were blessed with privileged physiques. This beauty standard has evolved over the years from perfect hour-glass silhouettes achieved with corsets to the thin athletic figures and supermodels that dominated the 80s, waifs of the 90s and to yoga perfection of the 2000s. The “beautiful” people existed on their own pedestal, while the rest of humanity was overlooked.

With beauty standards continuously transforming, what was once previously not accepted as “beautiful” has expanded into the current “body positive” narrative. But what does “body positive” really mean? Is it merely an emphasis on “fat acceptance” or is it truly as inclusive as the word suggest and the movement intends? The BODY BEAUTIFUL exhibition addresses this shift in our cultural experience, engaging viewers with artworks by a wide array of artists of all ages and genders, who address what the “Body Positive” movement means to them in 2019. As a curator I felt it was important to include works by artists of all genders and generations, as well as represent all body types in this narrative. To me “Body Positive” should be inclusive of all shapes and sizes, skin colors, perfections and imperfections – including “skinny” bodies, plus size figures, pregnant bodies, bodies with stretch marks, scarring, winkles, aging – and yes, beautiful bodies size 0 to size XXXXL.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month The Bronx Defenders present: The Boogie Down Poetry Slam. Come join me for a night of poetry, music, and performances FREE OF CHARGE. I will be performing a set, as well as vending some of my art goodies, so come by and show some love! Light refreshments will be provided.

ABOUT THIS SHOW

A poetic and cultural journey exploring the rich lives of LGBTQ people. Curated by Phillip Ammonds. Featuring Alexander Scelso and Brittany Maldonado.

ABOUT THE READERS

Alexander Scelso developed ‘The Unicorn That Discovered Self Love’ a solo show to be performed in venues in NYC and was featured at The Nuyorican Poets Cafe, InspiredWordNyc, The Duplex, Bar Thalia to name a few. Acting since age four and worked off Broadway and off off Broadway in productions such as “Twelfth Night,” “Gruesome Playground Injuries”, “The Accordionist”, “Ti-Jean and His Brothers”, and “Angels in America.” Working to marry poetry and theatrical performance to connect with audiences. 

Brittany Maldonado is a Bronx born poet, artist, actress and feminist. She pulls her creative inspiration from life, love, pain and all the moments in between. After working in corporate America for over ten years, she decided to leave it behind two years ago, and pursue art full-time. Since then she has exhibited her art and performed spoken word in venues all over New York City. This past June she published her first poetry book “Letters to My Stepping Stones” and is in the process of writing her second which she hopes to release by the end of this year. You can find her work and follow her journey at www.brittanymaldonado.com

 Dixon Place Literary Programs are supported, in part, with private funds from the Axe Houghton Foundation, and public funds from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs.

So honored to be a part of this pop-up art exhibit celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising. I will be showing 4 pieces alongside some incredible artists so come through and celebrate your pride!

Super excited to be showing a piece of mine in this group show! St. Matthew & St. Timothy is an Episcopal church located on the Upper West Side. They are a bilingual congregation with a diverse community in New York City, seeking to reflect God’s Love through word, sacraments, education, and service. All are welcome. They are a church where you do not have to negotiate your identity in order to join. Their LGBTQ group, Intersection, is curating a Pride month celebration series under the title “God’s Pride at SMST 2019”. Come join for a night of art and community!

Hello bright lights! I wrote my first poetry book, and I’m extremely excited to share it with you all!! I’m having my book release party on Sunday June 2nd, at Branch OfC. (225 Rogers Ave Brooklyn, NY) from 3-6pm. I’ll have copies for sale there and would love to see all of your lovely faces to celebrate this next chapter of life! <3

The Rose Garden Events presents the second installment of their "Night with Kings & Queens" showcase series. This time around we're honoring Women's month and making it 'A Celebration of Queens'!

Come experinece the showcase everyone is talking about! We made waves in 2018 with our unique event and now we're back to bring you some more Creative Royalty! Our line up of Spoken Word Poets, Musicians, Dancers, Painters, Sculptors, Photographers and special guest DJs are all coming together to shine brighter than ever!

There's something here for everyone to enjoy! You won't want to miss what we have in store!

Advance tickets are on sale now, so lock yours in before the price goes up!
Use this link to purchase tickets:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-night-with-kings-queens-a-celebration-of-queens-tickets-55145342203?aff=JOURNEY2KALON

I will also have a table set up with merchandise for sale!

It will be a night to remember! <3

I’ll be featuring at this dope event centered around female empowerment! Come through and spread some love and support!

So excited to be featuring at the Friday Soul 2 Year Anniversary show! Come through to hear some dope poetry and live music! <3

PAIRINGS curated by Nancy Gesimondo will seek artwork that shares a common thread of imagery or material.

Whether in harmony or in tension; work in any media, figurative or abstract, two and three-dimensional, the curator will pair artworks side-by-side to generate a compelling dialog, weaving together various themes of expression to create a visual synergy that enhances and augments the messaging.

This is an open call to LiC-A artists as well as non-members. The selection depends solely on the visible connection to another artists work.


Opening Reception: Saturday, February 9th, 6 - 9 pm
On view: Thursday, February 7 - Sunday, March 3

Extremely excited to be showing one of my pieces in this group show as a Semi-Finalist for The Living Studio Residency. Come through and see some amazing art!