COLLEGE STATION, TX.- The Wright Gallery in the College of Architecture at Texas A&M University announces the second show of its 2019 season, “She Matters.” “She Matters” is a multidisciplinary exhibition that depicts the perspectives of women of color in today’s society. The exhibit will be on display March 6 through April 26, 2019.

“She Matters” chronicles eight female artists as they respond to the violence, discrimination, prejudice and misrepresentation often seen in the news and experienced on a daily basis by women of color. The title itself is a response - that these women and their stories matter.

“She Matters” originated as a group show for the Art League in Houston titled “How Do I Say Her Name?” in 2017. Curated by Assistant Professor of Practice at Prairie View A&M University, Ann Johnson, the original group show included all of the same artists and was spurred by the 2015 news reports on the arrest and subsequent death of Sandra Bland. Johnson wanted to give a platform to women of color to creatively respond to issues such as family separation, law enforcement brutality, sexual assault and violence and more.

“The show originated out of my desire to give voice to women who have been violated and abused by society,” said Ann Johnson. “I hope to give women of color the opportunity to tell their own stories in addition to showcasing the talent within our community. It’s an opportunity to hopefully use our creativity as activism.”

In addition to many of the original works and all artists from “How Do I Say Her Name?,” “She Matters” includes new works from participating artists: Regina Agu, Rabéa Ballin, Ann Johnson, Autumn Knight, Lovie Olivia, Kaneem Smith, Rosine Kouamen, and Monica Villarreal.

Each artist uses her independent discipline and preferred medium, which includes fabric, plaster, glass, neon and more, to express her own narrative and reaction to the treatment of women of color.