The colorful, political, and unconventional work of four artists was on display at the Fullerton College Art Gallery for the opening reception of “Visual Resistance” on Thursday, Feb. 1.

The exhibit featured the work of April Bey, Gomez Bueno, Dwora Fried, and Narsiso Martinez.

April Bey’s work featured fabric from west Africa and explained that “each fabric was purchased from a different woman, in a different country, in a different market”.

“Each one of these is like a different interview, conversation, with a different woman,” said Bey of her artwork.

The women featured in her artwork—which is made up of oil paint, Ghanian/Chinese Hitarget wax fabrics that are then sewn by hand onto a wood panel with epoxy resin according to the descriptions—will be immediately noticeable to many as it features Issa Rae, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and Michaela Coel.

“All this work represents a different woman who has made their own career using social media,” continued Bey.

Much of the artwork on display made a societal and political statement. Bey’s artwork included a message around the marginalization of people of color and poor people.

Narsiso Martinez’s artwork features drawings of charcoal on recycled cardboard boxes.

“They are specifically produce cardboard boxes,” said Martinez.

This is not an obscure fact but a rather significant one with the meaning behind it relating to Martinez’s own childhood and to those who are depicted in his work.

“I wanted to contrast the idea of farmworkers and the agricultural industry so I kind of wanna let labels represent the industry of agriculture and then I will go ahead and draw the farmworkers,” said Martinez who grew up in Mexico working in the fields with his family.

Although Narsiso did not make his art in response to the current American political climate, he admits it fits amongst the other artists work.

“I know that this seems like a response to our political climate, but also at the same time my work is more basically my own experiences,” he said.

“I love how it all works together,” said Dwora Fried who also had her work on display and is familiar with Bey and Martinez.

Fried’s assemblage art also did not shy away from hot button issues in politics. Her assemblage pieces feature scenes with societal and political statements in clear boxes where attendees must look closer to see what is being depicted inside.

She started to get more political in her artwork during the 2016 presidential election.

“I love how all of this works together in terms of our ideas and mostly the colors,” said Fried of the artwork being showcased at the exhibit.

Fried said that she hoped those who attended the event will think about becoming more politically involved.

The exhibition will run until Feb. 21. Visit the Fullerton College Art Department website for more details.