(Left to right) Details of “Mirror, Mirror” and “Dollhouse” by Melissa Huang
Mirror Addict
April 16 - May 24, 2026
Mirror Addict investigates the psychological and emotional dissonance of attempting to embody an idealized self—one that exists both in the physical world and as a fragmented digital persona.
Artist Statement
“In Mirror Addict, I explore the tension between self-perception and digital identity through glitch-inspired painting and video self-portraiture. This exhibition investigates the psychological and emotional dissonance of attempting to embody an idealized self—one that exists both in the physical world and as a fragmented digital persona.
The works in this exhibition embody the struggle of maintaining perfection while navigating the complexities of self-doubt, longing, and societal expectation. Using distortion, abstraction, and layered imagery, I depict the flickering, unstable nature of identity. My paintings shift between representation and abstraction, questioning whether a fragmented, fluid portrayal of the self might be more authentic than a meticulously constructed image. Video works further push this exploration, using digital glitches to expose the fragility of an idealized self-image and the
inevitable breakdown of perfection.
As our digital and real-life selves become increasingly intertwined, the gap between who we are and how we wish to be perceived grows wider. This exhibition reflects on that disconnect, inviting viewers to consider their own shifting identities and the pressures of contemporary self-representation. Through color, distortion, and movement, Mirror Addict captures the endless pursuit of an unattainable ideal—a perfect version of the self that always seems just out of reach.”
-Melissa Huang
Related Programming
- FRI May 1, 4-5:30pm // Artist Talk (free)
- FRI May 1, 5-10pm // First Friday + Exhibition Opening (free) – meet the artist!
About the Artist:
MELISSA HUANG (b. 1992) is an interdisciplinary artist living in Statesboro, Georgia, where she is an Assistant Professor of Art at Georgia Southern University. Melissa graduated from the Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design at Georgia State University with her MFA in Drawing and Painting (2021) and the Rochester Institute of Technology with her BFA in Fine Arts Studio (2014).
Her glitch-inspired painting and video self-portraiture studies the desire, failure, and dissonance associated with portraying an idealized self for a largely digital audience. Melissa has exhibited nationally and abroad with recent solo exhibitions at the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art, the Albany Museum of Art, and Whitespace. Her work has been published in New American Paintings and New Visionary Magazine. She is represented by Whitespace in Atlanta, GA. You can see more of Melissa’s artwork on Instagram (@melissahuangart) or her website (www.melissahuang.com).
North Carolina Emerging Artist Residency
Since 2000, Artspace has provided emerging visual artists with time and space to explore their work in a supportive and thriving open studio environment in our historic building at the heart of downtown Raleigh. Every year, Artspace selects up to two artists in an emerging stage of their professional careers to participate in this year-long residency.
During their residency, artists benefit from 24 hour access to a rent-free studio space, a monthly stipend, opportunities for professional development and community engagement, a professionally installed solo exhibition at Artspace within the year after completing their residency and more.
Purchase a piece from the exhibition! Several pieces in this show are available for purchase. For purchase inquiries, please visit Artspace or contact info@artspacenc.org.