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Rayna Johnson-Menard

Portrait of multidisciplinary artist Rayna Johnson-Menard smiling outdoors at a graduation ceremony while holding a bouquet of flowers.

Ceramics

BFA · Class of 2026

As a ceramic and multi-media artist, Rayna makes pottery, both sculptural and functional, exploring themes of deviancy, sexuality, science fiction, biology and women's health. She utilizes the phallic symbol as an umbrella concept ranging from a symbol of power, autonomy, masculinity, gender, objectification and more. Through Rayna's educational degree at AUArts, she has used her career to discover and share findings pertaining to her own body as a woman, alongside contemporary medical research of women's reproductive and menstrual health.

Denied Intimates The corkscrew like movement of the sperm cells tail doesn't propel it forward on its own, there's another force at work here. Animation, fabric, fibre, natural and synthetic dye, ceramics, intaglio.
Velvet Curtains The entrance to the installation is through these curtains. The viewer has no choice but to crouch, or brush past this material. Cotton, lac extract, indigo.
Snail Trail The liquid trail that guides the hoard of sperm cells to its destination within the uterus. Ceramics, tissue, intaglio.
The Ovum (Egg Cell) The ovum has a protective layer of cells around it called the corona radiata that actually allows and denies sperm cells as it see fits for reproduction. Sounds like autonomy to me. Bleached abaca, rit dye, styrofoam, chicken wire, blood sweat and tears.

Rayna Johnson-Menard's Work

Rayna Johnson-Menard's Work Installation view featuring projected drawings of sperm cells, suspended dyed textile forms and sculptural elements arranged throughout a gallery space.
Denied Intimates The corkscrew like movement of the sperm cells tail doesn't propel it forward on its own, there's another force at work here.

Animation, fabric, fibre, natural and synthetic dye, ceramics, intaglio.
Rayna Johnson-Menard's Work Large red dyed textile curtains suspended within a gallery space, forming a narrow entrance that visitors must move through.
Velvet Curtains The entrance to the installation is through these curtains. The viewer has no choice but to crouch, or brush past this material.

Cotton, lac extract, indigo.
Rayna Johnson-Menard's Work Installation detail featuring ceramic forms arranged on translucent fabric pathways winding across a gallery floor.
Snail Trail The liquid trail that guides the hoard of sperm cells to its destination within the uterus.

Ceramics, tissue, intaglio.
Rayna Johnson-Menard's Work Suspended pink sculptural form resembling an egg cell hanging alone in a darkened gallery space.
The Ovum (Egg Cell) The ovum has a protective layer of cells around it called the corona radiata that actually allows and denies sperm cells as it see fits for reproduction. Sounds like autonomy to me.

Bleached abaca, rit dye, styrofoam, chicken wire, blood sweat and tears.

This site may contain artworks with provocative content that some viewers may find uncomfortable or upsetting. AUArts supports a culture of non-censorship and ongoing conversations about contemporary art.