Artist-in-Residence
Diane Briones Williams
October -January 2026
Diane Briones Williams
SPECTRALS
January 10 - February 7, 2026
Colonization is a ghostly process. It transforms native people and cultures into lingering shadows that continue to haunt the descendants of both colonizers and the colonized. This project, which combines found tapestry kits of Western landscapes merged with Philippine imagery, explores the unique power of these figures and deepens our understanding of the postcolonial experience.
Living within the tension of two cultures, shaped by a history that cannot be forgotten, many colonized people exist in the periphery between past and present, life and death, visibility and invisibility, self and other. This “in-between” space resists simple categories and fixed identities. Two recurring figures emerge: the native, who seeks recognition and justice by recalling erased cultures; and the colonizer’s ghost, embodying the guilt and moral burden of a violent history.
To examine these ideas, I worked with found tapestries, mass-produced embroidery kits popular in the early 20th century that I gathered for several months. These kits often depicted romanticized European countrysides or idyllic American scenes; images designed to be stitched in domestic spaces, reinforcing cultural aspirations tied to empire, nationalism, and class. By collecting and reworking these embroidered landscapes, I interrupt their narratives, layering them with fragments of Philippine landscapes, silhouettes of indigenous and native Filipinos and obscured precolonial objects. In doing so, I draw attention to how these seemingly decorative domestic crafts also carry histories of cultural dominance and erasure. The work brings together a haunted surface where colonial and native histories overlap.
These ghostly figures reveal how colonization continues to shape the present. They remind us that the past never disappears but lives on through memory, identity, and struggle. Through them, we can reflect on recognition, justice, and the ongoing process of healing in a world still marked by colonial shadows.
Artist Statement:
Diane Briones Williams is a Filipinx interdisciplinary artist based in Los Angeles, CA, whose research-based practice investigates colonial legacies and the enduring impacts of empire. Rooted in historical and cultural frameworks, Williams explores the complexities of Filipino identity and heritage. Her work incorporates materials imbued with history, weaving together salvaged and donated items from family, friends, and immigrant communities. Through her art, Williams recontextualizes these materials to create works that embody shared, non-linear narratives of the colonized; stories often obscured or erased. Her practice addresses the loss and destruction of indigenous cultures, reclaiming fragments of memory to underline collective and reconstituted histories.
“I often immerse myself in multiple projects, working in isolation for weeks at a time. While this deep focus is essential to my practice, it can also feel daunting and disconnected from the world. That’s why I’m excited for the opportunity to create new work in a dedicated space that fosters community, diversity, and openness. An environment where collaboration and shared experiences can inspire fresh perspectives and meaningful connections.”
-Diane Briones Williams, Fall 2025 AiR
