Trina Merry | New York City Bodypaint Artist
Transforming people into works of art
Trina Merry paints on the human body, creating the illusion that our reality is a two-dimensional space. She is a multi-media artist utilizing the ancient medium bodypaint in a contemporary manner with her photography, performance, installation, video, and digital art.
Trina Merry's artwork defies conventional boundaries as she merges the human form seamlessly with landscapes, architecture, and cultural symbols, exploring themes of identity, unity, and activism. Through meticulous attention to detail and expert use of light and shadow, her body painting and photography create a visual tapestry that challenges societal norms and prompts viewers to reflect on their authentic selves and their relationship with the environment. By blending art and activism, Trina Merry's transformative creations inspire us to embrace diversity, question societal expectations, and confront pressing social and environmental issues.
“We are captivated by this artist who works with 'invisible models'. Artist Trina Merry masterfully uses paint to turn her models into amazing human chameleons. Merry's artwork is so detailed you'll forget there is even a person in her photos at all... they look effortless.”
- Business Insider
Meet Trina Merry
In 2006, after being struck by lightning, Trina Merry had an idea for an art project: what would it look like if she blended people into the street art murals she and her friends were painting in San Francisco? This question took her down a rabbit hole of performance and installation experiments with painting on people that led her to develop an optical illusion for turning three-dimensional bodies into what appeared to be two-dimensional paintings and photographs. When she moved to New York City she continued to paint on the street but was enthralled with the city’s architecture. Since then, it has led her to some very unexpected places.
Trina’s artwork has been exhibited at the Whitney Museum of America Art, Miami Art Basel, Brooklyn Museum of Art, and Toronto Film Festival. She’s painted at the Seven Wonders of the World and continues to grow her camouflage series at amazing places around the world. Trina painted pop star Jason Mraz for an eco-conscious campaign with FORD. She has lectured at ESMoA, Museo Di Bardini, and the San Jose Museum of Art. She has been honored with the "Fine Art Bodypaint- World Champion", winning for the USA in 2014 at the World Bodypaint Festival, and has been Artist-in-Residence at the Watermill Center Summer Program and Il Palmerino.
Trina travels heavily but maintains two working studios in Dallas (Deep Ellum) and New York City (by the Flat Iron Building).
Jumpstart Your Experience Here…
It all started when NYC Bodypainter Trina Merry was struck by lightning in Hollywood, it altered the course of her life. Everything turned white and there was a loud buzzing sound as the lighting filled her car. The most incredible aching sensation shot through her bones. Suffering from continuous a painful ache in her bones whenever she was near power lines or any electrical wires, she escaped to the sheltering forest of Yosemite National Park hoping for reprieve. She spent a year painting by a little stream where she made friends with the local deer.
It was during this time that she had a few glasses of absinthe with Amanda Palmer (the Dresden Dolls, TED Talks). Palmer encouraged Trina to stand onstage and get body painted with the Dolls opening act- an Australian synesthesia art rock band called “The Red Paintings”. While wearing a silver mask that shot laser beams out into the audience, she experienced complete strangers painting her body with brightly colored space toys. Something sparked: Art had a heart beat. Art could be vulnerable. Art was… happening.
Trina Merry, a visionary artist of our time, defies the boundaries of conventional artistry through her captivating and boundary-breaking creations. With each brushstroke, she unveils a world where the human form merges seamlessly with its surroundings, blurring the lines between reality and illusion. Through her remarkable body painting and photography, Trina Merry explores profound themes that resonate with the core of our existence.
At the heart of Trina Merry's artwork lies the exploration of identity and our connection to the environment that envelops us. She ingeniously weaves the human body into the fabric of landscapes, architecture, and cultural symbols, demonstrating the intrinsic bond between humanity and its surroundings. Her meticulous attention to detail and expert use of light and shadow make the human form appear both ethereal and rooted, existing simultaneously in multiple dimensions.
One of the recurring themes in Trina Merry's work is the celebration of diversity and the power of collective identity. By adorning her models with elements from different cultures and contexts, she emphasizes the richness and beauty that arises from the coexistence and interaction of various backgrounds and perspectives. Her art becomes a visual hymn to unity, inviting viewers to embrace the harmonious tapestry of humanity.
Through her art, Trina Merry also questions the notions of visibility and camouflage, challenging societal expectations and norms. By blending her subjects into their surroundings, she poses profound inquiries about the masks we wear and the roles we play in our daily lives. Is our true essence masked by societal constructs, or can we truly integrate with our environment and reveal our authentic selves? Such contemplations confront viewers and provoke a deeper exploration of self and societal expectations.
In Trina Merry's work, the human body becomes a canvas for storytelling, blending art and activism. She fearlessly tackles social and environmental issues, amplifying marginalized voices and shedding light on urgent matters. Her art becomes a powerful medium to confront the viewer's conscience, urging them to reflect upon the challenges we face collectively and our responsibility to effect positive change.
Trina Merry's artistic journey is a testament to the transformative power of imagination and the boundless possibilities that emerge when we challenge the confines of conventional art forms. Through her body painting and photography, she immerses us in a world where art transcends boundaries and beckons us to ponder the intricate relationship between the self and the world around us. With her profound exploration of identity, unity, and activism, Trina Merry's artwork leaves an indelible mark on our collective consciousness, inspiring us to embrace our individuality and forge a deeper connection with our environment.
TRINA MERRY PORTFOLIO
“Brooklyn-based artist Trina Merry utilizes an unconventional medium for her work: the human body. Combining intricate body painting with real-time photography, Merry produces surrealist pieces that seamlessly blend her subjects with their backgrounds, creating riveting works that leave you wondering where the body starts and the building ends.”
-Refinery 29
TRINA MERRY X JASON MRAZ X FORD
