Joce Leo (they/she) is a multi-media artist studying psychology and visual art at Roger Williams University. After surviving childhood sexual abuse, their work centers around traditionally stigmatized and censored topics such as eating disorders, self-injury, sexual violence, gender identity, institutional violence, and child abuse -- and the overlaps between these topics and current social justice topics such as abolition, deinstitutionalization, gender expression, and spirituality. Their art aims to ask the questions: How do we hold individuals through their pain without engaging in the systems that harm them? How do we distance ourselves from the western ideals of “individualism” and “independence” and practice radical care? Joce is tired of being labelled "unreliable" and is trying to create work that opens up a dialogue that doesn’t end. The art piece becomes not just what they are creating but rather how we respond to it as a community. Joce hopes to go on for an MFA in visual art and to someday teach, curate, and practice art therapy.
Content Warning: Joce’s work often covers content that has the potential to be upsetting or triggering, including imagery and textual references to eating disorders, self-harm and suicide, trauma and abuse, sexual violence, etc. Please take care of yourself first and foremost when viewing the images. A resource that you may find helpful if you are struggling with any of the issues touched upon in this work: Project LETS (an anti-carceral organization focusing around prevention and harm reduction for those experiencing mental health issues, without involving police or potentially triggering people.)
