Smell Your Flowers - MiA Gallery

Marcus Branch’s solo show, Smell Your Flowers uplifts, honors, and celebrates Black and Brown members of the Trans community. To ‘stop and smell the roses’ is a privilege that many members of the Trans community no longer have. Amidst the constant threat of violence the Trans community faces, peace, joy, and celebration often fall by the wayside. Branch’s show instead centers and uplifts the Trans community to do just that—obtain peace, feel joy, and celebrate. With the dire issue of racial injustice plaguing our nation, let alone our world, Marcus Branch aims to shine a much-needed light on the Black Trans Community. Trans members of the Black Community constantly have their cases overlooked and their lives undervalued. In the span of 2 years alone, there have been over 136 deaths within the Trans community, the majority of which were Black and LatinX. This must end.

Ellington (i) - Brooklyn, 2023 20x30 Archival Print

Ellington (ii) - Brooklyn, 2023 20x30 Archival Print

Kaye (i) - Philadelphia, 2023 20x30 Archival Print

Kaye (ii) - Philadelphia, 2023 20x30 Archival Print

Angel (i) - Philadelphia, 2023 20x30 Archival Print

Angel (ii) - Philadelphia, 2023 20x30 Archival Print

Kingston (i) - Bronx, 2023 20x30 Archival Print

Kingston (ii) - Bronx, 2023 20x30 Archival Print

Installation View
MiA | Mission in Arts Gallery
Floral Designs by Fruitcake FLowers, Lovely Vine, & Fistful of Flowers

Interview led by Nick Piro
Filmed & Edited by Phil Kwarta of Owl & Stag Productions

Programming:
Remembrance Vigil in observation of Transgender Day of Remembrance, Trans Led Pop-Up Shop, Panel Discussion, & Closing Reception
Special Thank You to Kingsley Ibeneche, Fistful of Flowers, Fruitcake Flowers, AohKaye, DJ Delish, Seamone Farries, Michele Kishita, Mariah Couper, & Ahmed Abdelazeez