Essie Somma Solo Exhibit

In June our Vault Gallery will feature original paintings by Essie Somma.
"Undomesticated" will include a series of paintings and one video installation exploring identity in flux. Depicting domestic space, mundane ritual, and emblems of Americana, the work seeks to destabilize our expectations of the feminine. Figures are fragmented to maintain their agency and allow for subjectivity, while boundaries between human and non-human, inside and outside, and chaos and order are blurred, presenting a version of reality that is itself adaptable, intuitive, mischievous, and resilient.​
There will be an opening reception on Friday, June 5 from 6pm to 8pm, where visitors can meet Essie and view her work. The opening reception is during downtown Manteo's First Friday festivities and is free and open to the public.​
"Undomesticated" will be on display in the Vault Gallery June 5-27, 2026.
For more information about this exhibit, visit www.darearts.org/essiesommaexhibit.