CURRENT Exhibition

Contours of Connection 

Mai Gutierrez and Amanda Linn McInerney 

Exhibition Dates: February 28th - March 29th
Artist Reception: Friday, February 28th 7-10 pm

ICOSA Collective presents Contours of Connection, a multidisciplinary exploration of unity, inspired by the landscapes, architecture, and history of the Puglia region in southern Italy. Drawing from Gestalt theory—the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts—artists Mai Gutierrez and Amanda Linn McInerney weave together sculptures, prints, and video to examine how distinct elements interact to create cohesive forms.

Gutierrez’s sculptures are inspired by the iconic trulli of Alberobello, whose dry-stone architecture embodies resilience and simplicity, as well as the southern constellation the Pleiades, which have long guided seasonal observations in the region. These forms draw upon Puglia's abundant limestone and ancient stone maps, intertwining necessity, creativity, and celestial symbolism into timeless expressions.

McInerney's encaustic serigraphs evoke the dreamy feel of the rhythmic movement of the water captured from the Salento coasts. Printed on acrylic, these screen prints reflect the Adriatic and Ionian seas’ colors and clarity, and play with depth to invoke the feeling of the shifting yet calm currents. These works capture the fluidity and balance of the natural world, echoing the sea’s moderating presence in the landscape.

The collaborative video piece, shot at a coastal town on the east coast of the Salento peninsula, is partially projected onto Guiterrez’s stone sculptures to enhance the environmental presence and add to the idea of a slow and memorizing motion, exploring the dynamic interplay of fragmentation and unity. The artists challenge viewers to see connections and patterns within the seemingly segmented, mirroring the natural and psychological processes of organizing the world around us. Contours of Connection celebrates the profound beauty found in interconnectedness, inviting viewers to reflect on how seemingly disparate elements come together to create meaning, balance, and resonance.

Mai Gutierrez is an architectural designer and artist based in Austin, TX, with a BFA and Master’s degree in Architecture from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Hailing from Monterrey, Mexico, she infuses her work with inspiration drawn from nature, skillfully integrating elements like stone, wood, and metal to shape a distinct architectural aesthetic.

Amanda Linn McInerney is a Texas-based visual artist who works primarily in printmaking, sculpture and recently, digital media. Her work is influenced by the natural world and its cycle of growth, change, death and renewal, and how this cycle informs or rejects the experiences we have in society surrounding lifestyle and mortality. She has contributed to and shown work with artist nonprofits and mentoring programs like the Women Printmakers of Austin, Chula League and The Contemporary Austin. She has been a member of ICOSA since 2015 and has continued to focus on the collective’s fiscal sustainability and longevity in the local art community. In addition to her artistic work, Amanda is also an educator at Austin Screen Printing Cooperative.

Contours of Connection by Mai Gutierrez and Amanda Linn McInerney

Exhibition Dates: February 28th – March 29th, 2025

Opening Reception: Friday, February 28th from 7-10pm

Third Thursday East Austin Arts District hours: March 20th  6-9pm
Gallery Hours: Fridays & Saturdays 12-6 pm or by appointment
 ICOSA Collective Gallery
 916 Springdale Rd, Bldg 2, #102, Austin, TX 78702
 www.icosacollective.com