• Home
  • About
  • FAQ
    • View Trina's Models
  • Contact
  • Shop
  • Portfolio
    • Client Work
    • Urban Camouflage
    • Lust of Currency
    • Human Sculptures
    • Multi-Body Paintings
    • Performance Art
    • Graffiti Camouflage
    • Human Canvases
    • Happy Little Trees
  • Press
    • Featured Press Links
  • Blog
  • Menu

Trina Merry

New York Body Painter
  • Home
  • About
  • FAQ
    • View Trina's Models
  • Contact
  • Shop
  • Portfolio
    • Client Work
    • Urban Camouflage
    • Lust of Currency
    • Human Sculptures
    • Multi-Body Paintings
    • Performance Art
    • Graffiti Camouflage
    • Human Canvases
    • Happy Little Trees
  • Press
    • Featured Press Links
  • Blog
Exhibitor Promotional Graphic-80.jpg

Superfine! Art Fair

April 16, 2018 in Event

Get 30% off all tickets with code EXHIBITORFRIEND.

Special live bodypaint performance & cotton-candy-clad champagne May 2nd 9pm-midnight.

GET TICKETS

Tags: superfine art fair, nyc, new york, art fair, bodypaint, trina merry
$174,000,000.jpg

Modigliani Documentary

February 06, 2018

Just in time for the Modigliani exhibition at the Tate Modern, Trina Merry created a special piece for Arte TV's documentary "Modigliani- le corps et l'ame mis a nu".  

"A leading painter and sculptor of the early twentieth century, Amedeo Modigliani was especially famous for his portraits which, according to his models, put their soul bare. His feminine nudes, with sensual bodies, arouse more than just admiration." -ARTE TV

CLICK HERE to view the special documentary (in French).

_2017-08-08 226A0717.jpg

Collector Alert: Print Edition Changes

February 06, 2018

There will be some changes to my print editions starting in 2018.  I will be limiting my work heavily to no more than 30 prints plus 2 artist proofs offered in  small (16x24), medium (24x36), and large (40x60) sizes.  For those of you who have been collecting my work, this means a jump in value for your collection. You will be receiving updated certificates of authenticity.

In 2018 I will be focusing more on making objects.  I will still be creating ephemeral works & documenting them, but I will be offering more original works and altered multi-media prints.  VISIT SHOP

team.jpg

New Year, New Team

February 06, 2018

We had a very competitive application process for our 2018 team.  After personally reviewing over 600 applications, I passed off my top selects to our esteemed jury.  They chose 44 excellent performers from NYC, CA, & Europe.  We will continue to have special act performers and mirror twins in 2018.

Our  2018 Jury:

Chelsea Hogan, Getty Villa Museum
Elana Black, Amazon
Lauren Bochner, Alice & Olivia
Sara Meletis, Cerbelli Creative
Tim Engle, CA Photographer
Paul Tirado, NY Photographer
Simone Bart, Performer
Zachary Koval, Performer
Stephanie Chisholm, Aerialist
Dove Meir, Actor
PJ, 2017 Fall/Winter Intern


I am confident that we have a stellar team and am excited for what this year holds.

CLICK HERE to view the new 2018 team

Boyy Moda Operandi Bodypaint Renata Skobo Trina Merry 1.jpg Dolce & Gabanna Moda Operandi Bodypaint Renata Skobo Trina Merry 1.jpg Dolce & Gabanna Moda Operandi Bodypaint Renata Skobo Trina Merry 2.jpg Moda Operandi Bodypaint Renata Skobo Trina Merry 1.jpg Simon Miller Moda Operandi Bodypaint Renata Skobo Trina Merry 1.jpg

Case Study: Moda Operandi Social Media Campaign

November 26, 2017

Name of the Company: Moda Operandi


Your Name and Position: Jennifer Blaber Vice President, Creative Services

What does your company make:

In homage to the history of couturiers who showcased their creations in trunks to elite clientele, Moda Operandi is the only online retailer to invite clients to pre-order next-season’s looks straight from the runway. And for those who can’t wait, we offer an expertly curated in-season boutique. The vibrant theatrics of fashion week come to life with our highly editorialized shopping experience. Spellbinding imagery and evocative language showcase our exceptional designer offerings, comprised of everything from premier fashion houses to emerging vanguard labels. Expect unprecedented access to stunning ready-to-wear, luxurious leather goods, and museum-worthy fine jewelry. Moda Operandi's dedicated personal stylists provide the most bespoke services in luxury shopping, attending to our client’s every need, from expert styling advice to tailored wardrobe recommendations.

Please tell us briefly about the project & what were your company was hoping to achieve?

We desired a surreal, Magritte-inspired set featuring our latest handbag offering.

What sort of a campaign was it (ie. product launch, branding campaign, advertising, etc)

A handbag specific branding campaign.

What sort of media did you use for this projects distribution:

Social media and display banners.

What was your biggest fear before hiring us?

That it wouldn't look good.

Did it come true, and if not, what happened instead?

No, thankfully it didn't come true - it looked great! We were very happy with the final product.

What, specifically, was your favorite part of this campaign, and why?

This was a very different shoot for me to produce, which made it extra challenging and rewarding. It was fun and exciting to witness the process start to finish.

If you were to recommend us to your best friend, what would you say (assuming you loved working with us as much as we loved working with you- of course)?

To bring your ideas to the table, but to also listen and trust to Trina Merry's advice. She is a true professional. She knows what she is doing and will do everything in her power to make you happy and give you the best results possible.

Tags: bodypaint, bodypainting, body art, fashion, moda operandi, dolce & gabbana, new york, new york city, nyfw, social media, advertising, campaign
Lauren Moshi Bodypaint Trina Merry Smile Emoji.jpg

Case Study: Lauren Moshi

November 25, 2017

Lauren Moshi Interview with Michael Moshi:

Client:
Brother and sister team, Michael and Lauren Moshi, created Lauren Moshi Inc. They are inspired by high fashion and fine art. Each piece is unique, produced in limited quantities, and hand drawn by Lauren. Their clothing is targeted towards customers who appreciate finer details and intricate designs.

Summary:
This piece was commissioned as a promotional image celebrating collaboration between two amazing artists. We wanted to acquire a beautiful piece to blow up and hang in the Lauren Moshi Store, as well as to showcase on our social media so our customers could see the process of painting 16 people into Lauren’s image.

Results:
This project was all that we hoped for on the day of production. We won’t see the results of this campaign until February and March when the image is pushed through social media, distributed on products, and hung in the store.

Testimonial:
We had no fears in hiring Trina, although this was sort of out of left field. We didn’t know what would happen, but we love Trina’s work!

Favorite Moments:
Our favorite part of the experience was the speed and professionalism exhibited by all members of Trina’s team. Once the painting began, I was surprised at how quickly Trina was able to complete this camo. When we ended up needing more people, everyone stepped in to help out and call models to join us!

Recommendation:
With Trina’s team, you get what you want. They are very easy to work with, professional, and they were there to get the job done. I would recommend other collaborations between artists for Trina and her team. We don’t work with anyone other than Lauren, so we don’t have a specific recommendation. We would love to work with Trina again for an in-store promotional event with a live high-profile band like The Grateful Dead.

 

Tags: emoji, body art, bodypaint, bodypainting, human sculpture, fashion, lauren moshi, los angeles, hippy, 1970s, 1960s, flower power
Tokyo Stace.jpg

Live Art Activation with Alice + Olivia in Tokyo

November 24, 2017

Trina did a special live painting for the 5 year anniversary of Alice + Olivia's Tokyo store.  To see more images and video CLICK HERE

View Alice + Olivia's awesome ONLINE SHOP

Tags: bodypaint, bodypainting, body art, tokyo, alice + Olivia, fashio, fashion, camouflage
226A8607.jpg

Thanksgiving: Returning to Gratitude

November 23, 2017

Today we pause to say thank you to you for giving us over 11 amazing years of bodypainting!  Gratitude has been instrumental in my success and ability to continue to dream bigger each year. Gratitude is an immensely powerful force that we can use to expand our happiness, create loving  relationships, and even improve our health.

Many scientific studies, including research by renowned psychologists Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough, have found that people who consciously focus on gratitude experience greater emotional well-being and physical health than those who don’t. In comparison with control groups, those who cultivated a grateful outlook:

  • Felt better about their lives as a whole
  • Experienced greater levels of joy and happiness
  • Felt optimistic about the future
  • Got sick less often
  • Exercised more regularly
  • Had more energy, enthusiasm, determination, and focus
  • Made greater progress toward achieving important personal goals
  • Slept better and awoke feeling refreshed
  • Felt stronger during trying times
  • Enjoyed closer family ties
  • Were more likely to help others and offer emotional support
  • Experienced fewer symptoms of stress

If you want more happiness, joy, and energy, gratitude is clearly a crucial quality to cultivate. It is a fullness of heart that moves us from limitation and fear to expansion and love. When we’re appreciating something, our ego moves out of the way and we connect with our soul. Gratitude brings our attention into the present, which is the only place where miracles can unfold. The deeper our  appreciation, the more we see with the eyes of the soul and the more our life flows in harmony with the creative power of the universe.

Here are a few powerful gratitude practices for you to try:

  1. Keep a Gratitude Journal

    Since ancient times, philosophers and sages from every spiritual tradition have taught that cultivating gratitude is a key to experiencing deeper levels of happiness, fulfillment, and wellbeing.

    One of the earliest advocates of a daily gratitude practice was Dutch philosopher Rabbi Baruch Spinoza. In the seventeenth century, he suggested that each day for a month, we ask ourselves the following three questions:

    This practice, wrote Spinoza, would help us find more meaning and joy in our lives and would lead to profound inner transformation.

    As you write in your journal, challenge yourself by not repeating items from the previous days— this will make you look more deeply at all the little things that enhance your life and give you joy ... waking in a warm bed; your favorite song; a phone call from a friend; the ability to touch, see, or hear; electricity; the beating of your heart; a hug.

    You can write in your journal just before bed, when you wake up in the morning, or just before you meditate. The time of day isn’t important; what is important is that you consistently take a few moments to consciously focus your mind on your blessings. Commit to keeping a journal for a month. What we put our attention on expands in our life. By offering gratitude for all the goodness we experience, we’re inviting the universe to give us more and more of what we want.

    1. Who or what inspired me today?
    2. What brought me happiness today?
    3. What brought me comfort and deep peace today?
  2. Write a Thank You Letter

    Make a list of at least five people who have had a profound impact on your life. Choose one and write a thank you letter expressing gratitude for all the gifts you’ve received from that person. If possible, deliver your gratitude letter in person.

    In studies of people who have practiced this form of gratitude, the results have been amazing. Often the recipient of the letter had no idea what an impact he or she had had on another person and were deeply touched by the expression of such authentic gratitude.

    While we may often thank people verbally, the written word can often be even more powerful because someone has taken the time to write their appreciation.  A letter can also be re-read and treasured, creating joy and love that will continue to ripple out into the universe.

  3. Take a Gratitude Walk

    This is a particularly useful practice when you’re feeling down or filled with stress and worry. Set aside 20 minutes (or longer if you can) and walk in your neighborhood, through a park, around your office, or somewhere in nature.

    As you walk, consider the many things for which you are grateful ... nurturing relationships, material comforts, the body that allows you to experience the world, the mind that allows you to really understand yourself, and your essential spiritual nature. Breathe, pause, and be grateful for the air that is filling your lungs and making your life possible.

    Pay attention to your senses—everything you’re seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling, and maybe even tasting—and see how many things you can find to feel grateful for. This is a powerful way to shift your mood and open to the flow of abundance that always surrounds you.

We hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

Tags: bodypaint, body art, bodypainting, gratitude, thankgiving, holiday
Live A Moment Bodypaint Camouflague San Francisco Trina Merry.jpg

Live Art Activation with "Live A Moment" App in San Francisco

November 22, 2017

We created a special art activation for "Live A Moment" app in San Francisco.  Partnering with graffiti artist Apexer, Trina Merry camouflagued for models into a special mural called "The Wall of Emotions".  A special panel discussion on peace and mindfulness followed at AirBnB. 

To see more pictures from our live painting, CLICK HERE.

About the App:

"What if personal peace fosters worldwide peace? What if, by taking a moment to give yourself some of your own peace, you then carry that feeling out into the world... ultimately creating even more peace?

We think so, we call it the 3ft of Peace™.

LiveaMoment was created from the idea that world peace is not too big for all of us - especially when you can see who else is out there in the world feeling the same way you do. In bite-size portions, we can shift what's possible - and innovate a new way of achieving peace.

From our App to Our State of Peace Project, a documentary series with filmmakers from around the world creating dialogue about peace, LiveaMoment is tapping into something that's spreading globally: Together we can change the way we experience peace, share peace, and fund peace... one moment at a time. Because sometimes... you just need a moment."

Check out the app: CLICK HERE

*The world peace tour continues next in Barcelona this winter!  Stay tuned...

Tags: art activation, apexer, graffiti, camouflague, body art, bodypaint, bodypainting, san francisco, live a moment, app, technology
226A4510 (2).jpg

Live Bodypainting Performance at New York's Bloomingdales

November 21, 2017

Trina did a special live bodypainting in the window of New York's Bloomingdale's for Alice + Olivia following New York fashion week.  There was a special takeover of the atrium (video & installation), an in-store appearance by CEO Stacey Bendet &, of course, adorable cookie dough for all.

To see more images, CLICK HERE

View Alice + Olivia's awesome ONLINE SHOP

Tags: bodypainting, bodypaint, body art, bloomingdale's, new york city, new york, alice + Olivia, fashion, NYFW, New York Fashion Week, art activation, art, performance art
red feathers.jpg

Spice up Your Gift Giving with These Unique Bodypaint Ideas

November 20, 2017

This Black Friday, if you find yourself shopping for someone special but wanting a truly unique gift, we have you covered.  Spice up your gift giving with these great bodypaint ideas:

Get Painted and Give a One-of-a-kind Gift: 

Give them something special this year- you as art!  This is a very popular present for this holiday season and birthdays.  Trina spends a whole day pampering you and painting you up and then you choose the perfect print option for your loved ones present (canvas, framed paper or metal).  Cut off date for commissions in time for Christmas is December 15th.

Give the Experience:

Clients tell us bodypainting can be very relaxing- like a spa service.  Now offering gift certificates so you're loved one can have a special private session.  Give the experience of luxurious transformation.

Other Commissions:

Feeling shy?  Trina can create an original oil painting for your home or can bodypaint a model with your ideas. 

Buy a unique print:

See whats in our shop

Learn More by contacting us

Sagittarius Web.jpg

Gift Giving: Sagittarius

November 19, 2017

Gift Giving by Zodiac Sign

This woman is active and athletic, so give her a gym membership or a stack of new fitness videos. She might like to learn a new sport, so you could provide the lessons (karate? horseback riding? spinning?). In fact, any kind of classes would interest the Sagittarius woman, so look through some brochures and catalogs and find something that would intrigue her, from learning Italian to Chinese cooking, all the way to the ultimate gift: grad school.

There's no way to better celebrate all that hard work put into your body than with a custom bodypaint photo session.  For years to come she can stay inspired and motivated to remain active and strong.

For clothes, she prefers easy, comfortable sportswear that she can mix and match. She may need a garment fold-over suitcase (long, for a women’s clothes) to bring on her many trips or a passport holder in a buttery, fine leather. She’s ultra-modern, so a digital camera, where she can pop her photos onto her homepage could really interest her! There are several affordable models on the market. A sporty Navigator watch would be much appreciated. She’s sporty, so a pair of boots from a fine retailer would make her happy. Or, how about a new pair of sneakers?

She’s highly intelligent, so if you buy her a book, choose a current, controversial title you can debate together later. Like her male counterpart, she’d adore tickets to the circus, the more exotic the troupe the better. Her sign rules the turquoise, so look for an unusual piece with that stone which is lucky for her. A new kitten or puppy would cater to her love of animals.

JL_10062017.00_00_18_12.Still016 (3).jpg

Merry X Cutting Edge Science

November 18, 2017
JL_10062017.00_00_32_11.Still019 (1).jpg
JL_10122017.00_29_31_17.Still054 (3).jpg

"Edge of Wonder": the Human Microbiome

Do you enjoy learning more about cutting edge science and health?  We used bodypaint to create the visuals for this amazing documentary series- The Edge of Wonder - that will explore emerging frontiers in the science of health and disease.  

Episode One deals with the vast collection of bacteria that live inside of us, and help determine who we are. In recent years, scientists have linked changes in the microbiome with a staggering array of illnesses from allergies and auto-immune disorders to Depression, Autism and Cancer - insights which point to some incredible therapeutic possibilities. In this episode, we take a journey through the frontier of microbiome research, and uncover an entirely new way of thinking about the body and the factors that determine our health.

Watch the First Episode (for free!) 

Tags: pharma, science, health, bodypaint, body art, bodypainting, make up, art, documentary, netflix, discovery channel, new york, new york city
Red Dot Miami Picasso.jpg

Exhibition: Red Dot Miami with Lemon Frame Gallery & Special Live Peformance

November 15, 2017
Lemon Frame Gallery-Miami_catalog.png

Feature Live Performance & Exhibition
Will you be attending Art Basel?  Trina will be doing a very special live painting at Red Dot Miami's "After Dark" Friday December 8th from 6-10pm at the Lemon Frame Gallery booth.  The Litchenstein and Klimts works from the "Lust of Currency" series will be on exhibition at Lemon Frame Gallery's booth (a Red Dot Miami spotlight gallery) and she will be adding to the series with this new work by Picasso.  If you are a collector or client, please contact us for your free VIP collectors passes to Red Dot Miami and PULSE Art Fair (thanks to our model Anne Brakel & her mother's gallery).  We have a limited number of passes and it is first come first served.

Not a collector yet?  

View all works represented by Lemon Frame Gallery

Check out shop

Annual Casting Call

November 13, 2017
ANNUAL CASTING CALL PICASSO.png

Let's create the best team for 2018!

Know a bodypaint performance artist or model in New York who would be a great fit for our 2018 team?  Please contact us!

Tags: bodypaint, bodypainting, body art, new york, new york city
bts dumbo.jpg

Interview with Trina Merry

November 10, 2017

Explain what you do:

I paint on people.  Using a single perspective point, I create a trompe du'oeil flattening effect that either camouflages people into an environment or sculpts them into an object.

Are you the photographer of your work?

Yes I photograph my work and am the copyright owner on nearly all my major artworks.

How did you start painting on people?

When Trina Merry was struck by lightning in Hollywood, it altered the course of her life. Everything turned white and there was a loud buzzing sound as the lighting filled her car.  The most incredible aching sensation shot through her bones.  Suffering from continuous a painful ache in her bones whenever she was near power lines or any electrical wires, she escaped to the sheltering forest of Yosemite National Park hoping for reprieve. She spent a year painting by a little stream where she made friends with the local deer.

It was during this time that she had a few glasses of absinthe with Amanda Palmer (the Dresden Dolls, TED Talks). Palmer encouraged Trina to stand onstage and get body painted with the Dolls opening act- an Australian synesthesia art rock band called “The Red Paintings”. While wearing a silver mask that shot laser beams out into the audience, she experienced complete strangers painting her body with brightly colored space toys. Something sparked: Art had a heart beat. Art could be vulnerable. Art was… happening.

How has your family reacted to you being a bodypainter?

They're conservative, but they've been very supportive of my life as an artist and are very happy for me.  My dad has bodypainted one of the human motorcycles with me before, which was a special experience.

How big is the Bodypaint community? How many artists do this?

This is a legitimate art medium and there are many artists around the world.  However I'd say there's around half a dozen artists or less doing what I specifically do- I am a specialist.

What inspires you?

I like upsetting traditional expectations and social conventions with experiments in beauty and behavior.

What is your process?

Process (may be on my bio page or FAQ sheet)

What is your dream project?

I’d like to paint alongside indigenous bodypainters- me in my style and them in their style- and juxtapose them together in a photograph to pose questions about what is contemporary art.  I've begun this series on Easter Island and am working on doing it on other continents.

What am I seeing?  Is this digital art?  Are you on location or in the studio with backdrops?

This is not digital art.  This is a photograph of a Bodypaint happening.  The optical illusion effect is done in person and I'm actually on location taking great risks as a street artist (not using backdrops).  

How long does it take to complete a bodypainting?

Typically it takes 1-3 hours for my camouflage paintings, 2-12 hours for my human sculptures and 1-6 hours for other types of bodypainting. I don't really enjoy painting longer than about 4 hours because it's hard to maintain a certain energy consistency & I've been training the team to jump in and grab a paintbrush to make it go faster. The most common thing you'll hear me say on set is "paint faster guys!".

What are the challenges you encounter?

Time is always my biggest enemy and also my most honest friend.  Whether it's fighting the sun, a deadline, or flying to another time zone where I re-live the same date twice, I have an accurate awareness and observations about time.

What do people say when they see your art?

When they realize what they're actually looking at they freak out and think it's the coolest thing! "Wow!" is the most common response I hear and read.  

Why do you enjoy Bodypaint as opposed to conventional painting?

Painting on people is both physically and energetically exhausting but I love only having a few hours to create a painting from start to finish.  That energy is such a burst of creation and to me it most accurately represents the experience of being alive.  That buzzing moment when you kiss someone you love suspends time but it does come to an end.  I still have drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, installation and video as a part of my process so I don't solely work on the body- but these are done in preparation to service the happening.

What is your favorite bodypainting?

Brooklyn Bridge- its imperfect yet empowered. It's my number one selling print.

Who are your favorite artists or people who've inspired you?

Several trompe duoiel artists like , impressionists working with perspective and single day paintings like Cezanne & Manet, sculptors like Bernini and Michelangelo, optical illusion artis Escher, pop artists like Warhol and Koons, performance artists like Yayoi Kusama, Robert Wilson, Marina Abramovic, Lou Bolin, contemporary artists working with the body like Spencer Tunick and Alex Grey, and of course my awesome Bodypaint peers like Craig Tracy, Joanne Gair, Emma Hack, Emma Cammack, Riina Laine, David Gilmore, Alexa Meade, Verushka, Johannes Stoetter, Gesine Marwedal, Yolanda Bartram, Emma Fay, Elena Talgaria, Fillipo Ioco, Scott and Madelyn Fray, Birgit Mortel, Bella Vollen, Mike Shane and so many more wonderful souls. We all push each other and inspire one another. I never feel alone- wherever I travel in the world, there is a friend & support.

Did you only paint women?

Gender is an interesting discussion right now, isn't it?  Half my team identifies as male and half identify as women.  My New York series is all female whereas my UK series is all male.   It varies but I've been challenging myself to have a balance. I identify more with women when expressing myself obviously.

Where do you find your models?

People request to model for me everyday.  There's billions of people on this planet so it's really not hard to find a canvas.

I now do closed auditions once a year and take on a limited number of performers on my NYC Bodypaint team.

Aren't you sad when the model washes off your painting?

No actually I detach from the experience almost right away.  I've done thousands of bodypaintings now and really just love living in the moment so much.  The bond between the human canvas and I of course remains.

What are the prices of your limited edition prints?

The least expensive open edition 8x12" paper prints start at $49 and my most expensive works are $5000- all very affordable and we take payment plans.

Can you paint a client if you have such an offer? And how much would it cost?

Bodypaint is a transformative experience and as a connesouir of experiences I think others should be able to access this experience.  I paint up to two normal people per month and the rates are $2500-10k.  While I'd like to say it's a once in a lifetime experience, I've had a few clients come back for more and even do a mini series with me.

What painting took the longest to do?

The yellow sport bike titled "Kawasexy" took 18 hours. It was painful for everyone and I don't like painting for that long.

Isn't your artwork pornography?

No.  My work does not involve people performing acts or the sale of adult sex toys.

My Bodypaint happenings differ from say Yayoi Kusama who held Bodypaint orgies with the intent to protest war and violence.

My models are occasionally nude which has a well precedented history in art and culture.  From churches & museums to fountains and other publicly commissioned works, the fine art nude figure can be found everywhere.

Do you make your living from Bodypaint?

Yes- 100%.  I have four income streams: 1) commissions (private or commercial) 2) live art activations 3) sale of limited edition prints 4) royalties/image rights

What kind of paint do you use?

The medium I use is actually called Bodypaint.  It's non-toxic, hypoallergenic and FDA approved.  My team holds the highest standard for hygiene in the Bodypaint industry.  Most bodypainters kits are full of viruses, bacteria and fungus from other people's skin.  We do our very best to ensure team members and private clients do not receive STDs or other unwanted infections.  

What's painting in the body like versus painting on a traditional canvas?

My canvas has a twinkle in their eye, breath, a heart beat.  There's really nothing like using the body as a surface.

What kind of models do you prefer?

I like working with dancers & circus performers- but I enjoy working with people from a wide variety of backgrounds.  We all have something to teach and to learn and I like a well-rounded team.

Where are you from?  Where do you live now?

I was born in Seattle, lived most of my life in California (Bay Area and Los Angeles) & now I live in New York City.



 

sjma 1.jpg

Case Study: San Jose Museum of Art

November 08, 2017 in Case Study

Lisa R. James. -Director of Development at SJMoA

Anniversary Gala Fundraiser Dinner. The San Jose Museum of Art raises funds for education. They used to do them every year and then stopped, starting up again 5 years ago It is a very important source of funds for their education program.

Demographic: donors and art enthusiasts.

We asked Trina back, she had done an installation for a gala a couple of years ago and we asked her back because even though this is fundraising, it's still forwarding the mission of the museum and looking at what Trina does as an intersection of forward looking work, interesting ideas and a highly skilled artist. The internal theme of the gala was "things are not always what they appear" and Trina's work epitomizes that for me. I know that she has extraordinary artistry and it's always something new and surprising. It makes people stop and think in a different way.

She created installations for the gala launch party and for the gala itself. She created an installation for the gala launch in a private home. One was a similar installation, the other was a camouflage painting and it was the first thing you saw when you walked in the door and some people had to switch their mindset; where they were physically and emotional. As soon as they walked in the door, they had to go into a new space which is really important as they're thinking about the museum. That we are a contemporary museum, movin them into the theme, the underlying theme is see what you think and so Trina works into that perfectly.

The night of the event itself, she did 3 installations for us. One was a camouflage painting in the lobby, so one of the first things that people saw. And again, it was great because many people, if they weren't paying attention didn't actually realize that there were people there until they moved.

She did a wonderful installation in our auction gallery which served both as an artistic and strategic purpose. The strategic purpose is, one of the big ways that we make money at the gala is through the auction and we wanted people in the gallery. One of the ways to get them there was to have Trina do an installation because people will want to come in and see what's happening and they are intrigued by it. And the artistic purpose was the reminder of; it's Silicon Valley where the big emphasis is the technology. Sometimes the most incredible and brilliant technology is the human body and human figure and what people can do. Plus Trina created the theme all on her own, but she chose this incredibly gorgeous theme of the chrysalis and the artist in the chrysalis in the cocoon and then emerging and of her journey through the San Jose Museum of Art. It was really wonderful.

Results: People loved it very much and love Trina's art. What was nice this year was that we made sure people got to meet Trina which didn't happen the last time she was working with us. It was really quite wonderful. The 3rd installation was out on stage during the dinner leading to the auction where we're always looking for something to raise the energy again after the dinner and she worked on these contortionists who did an extraordinary performance. It was just super cool and everyone's eyes were popping out of their heads!

Fears: No fears! Why would i have any fears? It's Trina! there were no fears whatsoever. She is an amazing and wonderful collaborator. Probably the most important part of collaboration is the trust between Trina and me. We would talk about a general idea and where she was going. It's pretty amazing. And I think the best outcome of all was the people were saying, "Oh My God! I'm in San Jose! All of a sudden, I turn a corner and I'm in Brooklyn! Someplace cool!" It was increasing the cool factor in Silicon Valley.

Favorite: My favorite art was the installation in the private home because it was extraordinary. It was so beautiful. The artistry and in the intricacy of it. You don't normally get to walk up to an installation like this when it's a human being, you're always tucked away and being able to walk up and see. It's always surprising. It's just so beautiful and set off the space. We had the installation in a donor's home who has a big collection. We talked about whether we wanted to play off the collection, but decided instead we wanted to play off the space. There was a big, high ceiling atrium but with these heavy beams so there's a lot of space but a lot of architectural weight and she created this delicate, intricate installation that just reanimated the space.

Recommend: Working with Trina is a way to look beyond your expectations to something that's new, surprising and always changing. It's always bringing new energies, new interests and new excitement into a room.

***
It was an exhibition from our permanent collection called momentum. We invited 10 artists and creative people from some fields other than what we usually present to create responses to chosen works of art in the collection. An extension, so to speak. The Demographic was the general public and exhibition attendants.

Situation: It was our 45th anniversary exhibition and rather than do a standard treasures from the collection or an historical thing one might do on an anniversary, we decided to shake up our practice a little bit. To have people look at the collection in a different way and and attract people who might do that. We had a ballet dancer, an inventor, and a poet so obviously we were also hoping to bring in people of different disciplines as an entry point to the visual arts as well.

Results: Attendance of the exhibition was good. It wasn't a campaign. We didn't really use her for an advertising campaign, but she was an artist features in the exhibition. I think the day of the live performance we had about 75-100, which was good for us on a weekday, a Tuesday afternoon. I think people really enjoyed the print that she provided. People were watching the video. Most people who saw the performance or the video of it, it did change the way they looked at the Andy Goldsworthy work, which was what she was responding to.

Testimonial: We didn't have any fears. She's done some special events for us, some parties, and we new that she was super professional, very creative and was going to come up with something good. We had no idea what it was going to be be, but we knew it was going to be great. Our only concern was just that it being on a Tuesday, a regular day and knowing that the models would be nude. We knew that it was important to Trina and to the integrity of what she was doing. There's always the thought of the folks who are not prepared for that - walking into a museum and seeing naked models. But I think that was minor. We were prepared to alert people that was happening.

Favorite: The performance itself was very beautiful. The way the piece came together was very moving.

Recommend: Trina will blow your mind.

Tags: San Jose, California, Museum, Art, performance art, bodypaint, body art, bodypainting
100 Avenue A Typography 5.jpg

Case Study: Nestseekers International

November 07, 2017 in Case Study

Name of the Company: Nestseekers International

Your Name and Position: Ryan Serhant, Real Estate Broker (#2 Real Estate Agent in NY, & #5 in the USA & star of Bravo’s “Million Dollar Listing”)

What do they make (if they are a product-based company) or what do they do (if they are a service-based company): Real Estate Brokers

Was there a problem you needed to solve for your company?

How do you a sell a building that doesn’t exist?  How do you connect it to people?  My developer, Magnum, wanted max prices than had never been sold before in that (East Village 7th & A) area- it was $1000/sq ft higher- and that falls on me as the broker to make that happen.  I needed something that could grab people’s immediate attention and reach the demographic of who the buyers could be.

What was the solution created to solve this problem?

Normally you would take a person and photograph them in the apartment or renderings but that is pretty boring and stale and wasn’t going to get the numbers my client wanted to achieve.  This particular campaign allowed us to take people who could ordinarily live in East Village and paint them into the background.  Trina bodypainted people to blend into the renderings, finishes & neighborhood instead of stale renderings & also we wrapped the building in banners with the address of the building painted on nude bodies.  It was a fun way to take a harder look at a photo you would look at anyways.  

What sort of a campaign was it (ie. product launch, branding campaign, advertising, etc):

Building launch- to sell a building before it was done being built.


What type of media did you use for this projects distribution (ie. print, social media, tv, live event):

Banner Ads for building, Outdoor (including times square), Pop Up Experiential Sales Office/Gallery, Print (real estate book & editorial ads), Web, Social, TV (Bravo), Event (Webster Hall)

What were the results from this campaign? (As specific or measurable as possible i.e. we boosted web traffic to our site by 10 percent for one month or we increased sales by $10,000):

We broke price records that didn’t make sense for the area.  We went viral and this was all over the media and print.  We sold a lot of the building at a great volume and speed because of her work.

What was your biggest fear before hiring us?  Did it come true, and if not, what happened instead?

There’s was a small amount of resistance coming from people that said we couldn’t do what we were doing and they all started shutting up quickly as they saw the results coming in.

What was your experience working with other bodypainters and how are we different?

I was a hand model for Guido Daniele and did campaigns for like AT&T (the most popular ad campaign that year).  I would have to model all day.  I was really happy I didn’t have to model for this one- I’d much rather be the person watching the bodypaint.

Tags: bodypaint, body art, bodypainting, new york, new york city, nyc, real estate
Heidi Klum.jpg

Thanks to Our Halloween Clients!

November 02, 2017

Many thanks to all our great Halloween private clients this year!  One of our highlights was painting clients for Heidi Klum's Halloween Party!

To see more images, CLICK HERE

Tags: bodypainting, body art, bodypaint, heidi klum, thriller, michael jackson, andy warhol, new york, new york city, halloween
Scorpio Web.jpg

Gift Giving: Scorpio

October 21, 2017

Gift giving by Astrological Symbol

What gift do you get a do you get a Scorpio woman?

The Scorpio woman likes things that are well-crafted with classic tailoring. Get her a smart, black suit she can wear in a number of ways, or a beautiful silk blouse or outfit in her lucky color: burgundy. Get her an English trench coat, an Italian umbrella, or a fashionable French leather handbag that she will have forever. If she works, give her a beautiful attache case of buttery, smooth black leather.

A thoughtful gift if she goes out often at night would be something to put in her purse to keep her safe, whether a special alarm, a light for her keys, an automatic garage opener or a purse-sized cellular phone. Or get her an intercom so she can hear what is going on in various rooms.

She is intensely private and highly individual and would adore personalized, engraved stationary from the finest stationers. Scorpio women like to collect sexy, lacy lingerie in a variety of colors, black to nude, deep purple to bright red. From push-up bras to garter belts to wear with seamed stockings and pumps, the Scorpio woman is a true femme fatal. A water sign, she could never have too much perfume (she wants the real stuff, not cologne.) Her signature perfume is musk or a haunting floral-oriental.

You can always get her the ultimate lingerie- a once in a lifetime customize bodypaint lingerie experience.  Whether to wear for her special loved one or for a super sexy, intimate photoshoot, your Scorpio is sure to get your heart racing in body art.

Tags: astrology, astrological symbol, zodiac, scorpio, bodypaint, body art, bodypainting

Trina Merry Blog

Featured Blog Posts


Featured Posts