Trina Merry

In 2019, Merry revisited her “Objectified” series with a reboot. The performance art series features body painting models posing and interacting within common living spaces. The series questions society's relationship with their living spaces and materialism as well as the objectification of women in the modern world. Merry explains the following in her artistic statement: “Do the living spaces that surround us own us or do we own them? My Objectified series poses these questions and allows viewers to come up with answers by creating a conversation within the self.” Performances from the series were featured at The Untitled Space gallery in New York City.

Additionally, Merry studied visionary art with Alex and Allyson Grey at the Omega Institute in 2017. This contemporary art movement focuses on the expression of psychedelic experiences, and according to Alex Grey, “the artist's mission is to make the soul perceptible”. Due to the shamanistic roots of ancient body paintings, Merry pursued the training in order to connect visionary art with body painting's rich cultural history.

In 2016, Merry traveled to Washington D.C to create eight trompe l’oeil street art performances in front of national landmarks such as the White House, Supreme Court, and Lincoln Memorial. Merry describes how she incorporated strong, feminist tones within each piece: “I went with the most iconic sites of power. I was looking to dynamically contrast masculine versus feminine, and power versus freedom.” When asked about the series's significance amidst the election of Donald Trump, Merry stated that, “It’s important to be discussing freedom and power right now in light of the election, and especially in regards to the female body...so I feel like this series of work is more important than ever right now.”

In 2016, New York Magazine live streamed Merry body painting models with the outline of all 50 US states during the presidential elections. As states' electoral votes rolled in, Merry would body paint each respective state in either red for a republic majority state or blue for a democratic majority. During the magazine's Facebook live stream, Merry's performance gained over 4.5 million views, over 3,800 views, and over 1,000 shares.

Merry had many other early successes with installation and performance art. Her performance art “Drool” was featured at SOMArt's annual “100 Performances in the Hole” event in 2014.

After moving to New York City, Merry was inspired to do live body paintings in the streets of the bustling city. Continuing her signature camouflage style, Merry blended models into the city skyline and popular city scenes. The goal of “Urban Camouflage” was to connect with the city and explore its gender dynamics. In an interview with BuzzFeed in 2014, Merry remarked, “ New York is such an aggressive, violent city-characteristics we usually associate with masculinity- when in fact there are way more women living here than men...I think many women move here hoping to live Sex and the City lives, when the reality is most women have to ditch their fancy designer heels on the subway for more practical sneakers.”

In 2013, Merry was invited to participate in the Watermill Center Summer Program, a laboratory for the arts founded by Robert Wilson in Southampton. Excited at the opportunity to grow within the unique environment the Watermill Center offered and learn from with performance artists Marina Abramovic and Robert Athey, Merry created multiple living body art installations, including four displayed during the Watermill's Center 20th anniversary benefit, “Devil’s Heaven”.

For the 2012 International Motorcycle Show, Merry created human sculptures of a sports bike, dirt bike, and a cruiser. Real life Supercross rider Erin Bates was the rider on each human-bike, wearing a painted on outfit for each composition. Merry told the Huffington Post, “Everyone has seen the pictures of scantily clad women next to motorbikes and cars and it can look a bit trashy. I wanted to take the idea of a beautiful woman and the motorbike and turn it on its head by making the bike from the bodies of the models. Nothing like this has ever been done before." The project landed Merry four gold awards at the 2013 American Advertising Awards (Addy's) including best in show. Additionally, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! highlighted the project for special distinction.

In 2011 Merry relocated to New Orleans to apprentice under world-renowned body painter, Craig Tracy (as seen on Skin Wars). During her apprenticeship, Merry and Tracy collaborated on several notable pieces. This includes a “Visit Las Vegas” advertisement, commissioned by the City of Las Vegas, that appeared as a double page spread in the 2012 Sport Illustrated: Swimsuit Edition.

Merry's performance “Pink Petal Lipstick” explores how the lack of ingredient transparency can affect women's health. In response to a 2010 FDA study about lead contamination in lipsticks, Merry paints her entire face with a tube of hot pink lipstick.

In 2009, Merry exhibited with the Guerilla Girls at SOMArts. This created an early impression on Merry's future feminist works. Merry's mixed media painting “Imperial Wartime Jellyfish” featured Geishas trapped inside a nuclear fallout jellyfish with the “hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil” gestures. Surrounding them were multiple red glitter bombs falling from the sky. After completing “Television Totem Pole” for the 2010 SubZERO Festival, Merry continued to explore and focus her artistic talents on body painting.

In 2005, Merry was struck by lightning and developed a sensitivity to electricity. In an effort to heal, she moved to Yosemite. During that period, Merry had the opportunity to attend a Dresden Dolls concert, a band whom she helped sign while working for Yamaha's Artist Relations Department. The Dolls were touring with the Australian band, The Red Paintings, who incorporated live body paintings during their performances. Amanda Palmer convinced Merry to get body painted. Merry describes that night as “a transformational experience”, and her passion for bodypainting was born.

Merry was born in Seattle, WA and moved to San Jose, CA when she was 12. She graduated from Azusa Pacific University in Los Angeles, CA in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in film. Initially planning to pursue a career in film, she interned for Mel Gibson and worked in films and TV in the Art Department.

Trina Merry (born 1980). is an American multimedia artist that uses the human body as a brush or a surface. She is best known for her trompe l’oeil street art performances that camouflage human canvases into their environments as well as her op art “human sculpture” installations.  Merry is recognized as one of the top body painters in the world. Additionally, Merry's work highlights societal issues such as gender identity & equality, body image, and American consumerism.