Join us at Mirrorball Gallery + Lounge for a compelling evening with acclaimed contemporary photographer Mercedes Jelinek, whose work offers a thoughtful and visually arresting exploration of identity, place, and the layered realities of the American experience. This special event will feature an intimate artist talk followed by an afterparty in true Mirrorball style, creating space for both meaningful dialogue and lively connection in downtown Tryon.
Mercedes Jelinek brings an impressive and deeply relevant body of work to the conversation. A graduate of Purchase College, State University of New York, where she earned her BFA in Visual Arts, and Louisiana State University, where she received her MFA, Jelinek has built a respected career rooted in observation, storytelling, and social reflection. Her time as a resident artist at Penland School of Craft from 2014 to 2017 also established a meaningful connection to Western North Carolina, making this event feel especially resonant for our region.
Her published monographs have received significant national recognition. These Americans, published by Kris Graves Projects in 2017, documents individuals who attended the Women’s March in Washington, D.C., and has been collected by The Museum of Modern Art. Her book LOST, Spruce Pine, also published by Kris Graves Projects, is included in the LOST II monograph series, a collection held by major institutions including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum, the Guggenheim, the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, and numerous university collections across the country. Jelinek is also among the co-founders of the Better Than A Bandana Mask Project, further reflecting her commitment to art as a vehicle for community, visibility, and response.
During the evening, guests will hear directly from Jelinek as she shares insight into her artistic practice, the ideas that shape her work, and the path that has defined her career. Expect a conversation that is engaging, layered, and personal, offering a closer look at the role photography can play in documenting people, place, and contemporary culture.
After the talk, the evening will continue with drinks, conversation, and an afterparty in the Lounge. Mercedes loves to dance, so stay for the dance party later in the evening. It is an opportunity to gather, connect, and celebrate the energy of contemporary art in an atmosphere that is distinctly Mirrorball.
Join us for a night of art, perspective, and late evening revelry with one of today’s most compelling photographic voices.