Michelle Borgogni

Artist Statement

My work is part of an ongoing series titled Aliens, inspired by my experience as an immigrant and my work with unaccompanied children in the United States. The series explores the dual meaning of the word “alien” as both a legal label and a symbol of otherness.

Through abstract and figurative compositions, I examine themes of identity, displacement, and belonging. Lines and forms reflect migration processes—uncertainty, waiting, and resilience—while color conveys emotional states tied to transition and adaptation.

Some works are identified by numbers, referencing systems that reduce individuals to codes. Others are titled to reclaim identity, memory, and humanity.

Working with mixed media, oil, and acrylic on canvas, I aim to transform bureaucratic definitions into a visual language of presence, dignity, and connection.