Presented by Root Division
Curated by PJ Gubatina Policarpio

Blurring the boundaries between reality and the extraordinary, the works in this presentation integrate uncanny, dreamlike, and sometimes unsettling visions rooted in contemporary life. Informed by political anxieties and personal tragedies, these images reflect a flexible consciousness where the strange, supernatural, and surreal are used to examine social issues such as labor, migration, ecological crisis, power and agency. These artists turn to symbolism and fantasy not as a means to move away from the reality of everyday life but as a way to engage with it more fully and vividly.

This presentation highlights the diverse practices of Root Division Studio Artists: B. Colleen, Edy Cahueque, Itzél Rios-Ellis, Leticia Javier, and Wally A. Corona. Root Division’s Studios Program is central to our mission of fostering creativity, community, and access to the arts. Designed as an accelerator for Bay Area emerging artists, we offer below