Bio-Power | Lakyn Hann

Exhibiting March 31 - April 7, 2026

"As a queer and non-binary individual, my body often becomes a topic of discussion. My expressions of masculinity and femininity are frequently questioned and scrutinized. In this series, "Bio-Power," I engage with Michel Foucault's theory by examining how various perspectives—those focused on biological sex, legislation and policing, and religious interpretations of gender and reproduction—attempt to discipline and define my identity.

In the painting “Anatomo Pt. 1,” I collage together bodies and genders, using precise lines to emphasize the clarity and definition often demanded by those who target queer and trans individuals, seeking clear boundaries in gender. In “Anatomo Pt. 2,” I replicate the figure from Pt. 1, but this time I paint from a distance using a brush attached to a stick. This physical distancing abstracts the figure, placing me in the position of those who make decisions about queer and trans bodies. Through this process, the original figure—precise and clean—becomes messy and monstrous. Queer and trans individuals are often portrayed as 'others' through body-controlling policies that demonize our existence.

Finally, in “Sacrifice to Divine Will,” the third part of this series, I explore themes of religion, reproductive rights, and sexuality to further understand the criticisms I am presenting. Painted entirely on a duvet cover, I encourage the viewer to examine and enter a private space—the bedroom. Central to this piece is a two-headed lamb, which transforms a Christian symbol into the “dark omen” that trans children are often treated as. As someone who grew up queer in a religious family, this was frequently a point of discussion: Will my child ever be able to procreate? Will their transition affect a family unit?

Through collage, painting, textile, and process work I am using multidisciplinary methods to encompass the cruel reality of control and monsterization queer and trans individuals experience in many intersections of life and identity."

Featured Work

Anatomo Pt. 1

26 x 40 inches

Oil on Canvas

2025

Anatomo Pt.2

30 x 30 inches

Oil on canvas

2025

Sacrifice to Divine Will

60 x 70 inches

Acrylic, Oil Pastel, and Knitting Yarn on a Duvet Cover

2025

About the Artist

Lakyn Hann is an interdisciplinary conceptual artist who works in multiple mediums, and they are currently studying at the UoG Studio Art Program. Their current focus is on queer and trans activism and how they can use that as a lens to depict and understand different theoretical ideas. As a queer and trans individual, their work is very personal, but they are also interested in how queer and trans bodies are impacted as a collective. Lakyn also heavily relies on memory mapping — how memories and trauma can impact the body in the form of chronic pain and autoimmune disorders, as well as the process of remembering fragments of time through archival processes. Their work is deeply rooted in process and the systems they give themselves to complete a piece.