University of North Texas 
This exhibition features works by Alexis Phu, Kendall Pulido, Adventure Hensley, and
Olivia Varnell, who are four undergraduate CVAD students exploring themes of the monstrous,
fantasy, and absurd, through the lens of pop culture and kitsch. This exploration
ties together these artists' strengths as separate individuals and entities, expanding
on the work of each other and allowing different pieces to be in communication with
each other. In using the identity of the monstrous, the artist's hope for viewers
to examine what identities in society are deemed too fringe, to outside...too... and
challenge why it is they may think that way. Throughout the history of art, especially
film, monsterhood often stands in for different marginalized identities, or insecurities
the mainstream identity had towards the other. Rather than shy away from this painful
history, these artist's are using monster and myth as a vehicle for empowerment, and
visibility, especially queer visibility. Rather than shaming difference, we hope that
this metaphor can serve to celebrate it instead.
