Emerge is a series of collages by Los Angeles based artist Stephanie Mercado. The works in the exhibition are constructed from hand-carved hand-printed elements and colored papers that merge traditional printmaking with experimental practices, fine art and craft.
![Mercado Stephanie Emerge Exhibition Installation Photo Hooks Epstein Galleries](https://4nm167.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Mercado-Stephanie-Emerge-Installation-Hooks-Epstein_2-768x576.jpg)
![Emerge I, 2022, relief print collage, 14 x 14" - framed](https://4nm167.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mercado-Stephanie-Emerge-1-2022_wb-768x741.jpg)
![Emerge Exhibition, Installation Photo, Hooks Epstein Galleries](https://4nm167.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Mercado-Stephanie-Hooks-Epstein-Galleries_6-768x576.jpg)
![Professional, 2021, relief print collage, wood veneer, on Bridget Riley exhibition invitation,8 x 8" - paper size](https://4nm167.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mercado-Stephanie-Professional-2022_wb-768x769.jpg)
![Emerge Exhibition, Installation Photo, Hooks Epstein Galleries](https://4nm167.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Mercado-Stephanie-Hooks-Epstein-Galleries_1-768x576.jpg)
![Untitled, 2022, relief print collage, 11 x 11" - paper size](https://4nm167.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mercado-Stephanie-Untitled-2022_wb-768x772.jpg)
![Emerge Exhibition, Installation Photo, Hooks Epstein Galleries](https://4nm167.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Mercado-Stephanie-Exhibition-Installation-Hooks-Epstein-Galleries_3-768x576.jpg)
![Untitled (Knowledge, 2020, relief print collage, 12 x 9" - paper size](https://4nm167.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mercado-Stephanie-Untitled-Knowledge_wb.jpg?time=1721990931)
![Emerge Exhibition, Installation Photo, Hooks Epstein Galleries](https://4nm167.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Mercado-Stephanie-Hooks-Epstein-Galleries_5-768x569.jpg)
![Emerge Exhibition, Installation Photo, Hooks Epstein Galleries](https://4nm167.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Mercado-Stephanie-Hooks-Epstein-Galleries_4-768x512.jpg)
![An artwork of the Los Angeles Forest constructed from paper and handmade prints](https://4nm167.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mercado-Stephanie-Emerge-Bear-Hunt-2022_wb-768x575.jpg)
![Emerge II, 2022, relief print collage 11 x 11" - paper size](https://4nm167.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mercado-Stephanie-Emerge-2-2022_wb-768x752.jpg)
![Emerge Exhibition, Installation Photo, Hooks Epstein Galleries](https://4nm167.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/x_Mercado-Stephanie-Hooks-Epstein-Galleries-Emerge-2022_3-768x549.jpg)
![Shapeshifter I, 2020, relief print collage, 15-3/4 x 13-1/4" - framed](https://4nm167.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mercado-Stephanie-Shapeshifter-1-2021-wb.jpg?time=1721990931)
![Untitled (Olmec I), 2022, relief print collage, 11 x 11" - paper size, Stephanie Mercado](https://4nm167.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mercado-Stephanie-Untitled-Olmec-Head-1-2022_wb-768x754.jpg)
![Shapeshifter II, 2022, relief print collage, 14 x 10" - paper size](https://4nm167.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mercado-Stephanie-Shapeshifter-2-2022_wb.jpg?time=1721990931)
![Untitled (Olmec II), 2022, relief print collage, 14 x 12-1/2" - paper size, Stephanie Mercado](https://4nm167.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mercado-Stephanie-Untitled-Olmec-Head-2-2022_wb-768x840.jpg)
![Emerge Exhibition, Installation Photo, Hooks Epstein Galleries](https://4nm167.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Mercado-Stephanie-Hooks-Epstein-Galleries-Emerge-2022_5-copy-768x783.jpg)
![Emerge II, 2022, relief print collage, 11 x 10" - paper size](https://4nm167.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mercado-Stephanie-Shapeshifter-Transformation-2022_wb.jpg?time=1721990931)
![Emerge III, 2022, relief print collage, 8-1/4 x 9-1/4" - paper size, Stephanie Mercado](https://4nm167.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mercado-Stephanie-Untitled-Underwater_wb-768x665.jpg)
![Corona Virus Dreams, 2021, relief print collage, 24 x 33" - paper size](https://4nm167.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mercado-Covid-Dreams-24-x-33_wb-768x555.jpg)
![Flourish (for Maggie), 2020, lithograph, Ed. 18, 30 x 22"](https://4nm167.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/mercado-stephanie-flourish-for-maggie_wb-1-1-768x1016.jpg)
![Stephanie Mercado Untitled (with Andrew Wyeth), 2020, relief print collage, 11-7/8 x 8-7/8"](https://4nm167.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Stephanie_Mercado_untitled_1_12x9_wb.jpg?time=1721990931)
![Flourish (for Julie), 2020, lithograph, Ed. 15, 30 x 22"](https://4nm167.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/mercado-stephanie-flourish-for-julie_wb--768x1016.jpg)
![Stephanie Mercado Untitled (with Weeping Woman), 2020, relief print collage, 11-7/8 x 8-7/8"](https://4nm167.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mercado-Stephanie-Untitled-Weeping-Woman_wb.jpg?time=1721990931)
![Untitled III ( Blue Maid), 2020, relief print collage, 12-1/8 x 8-3/8"](https://4nm167.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Stephanie_Mercado_Untitled_2_12x9_wb.jpg?time=1721990931)
![Stephanie Mercado Untitled (Red Maid, Purple Maid), 2020, relief print collage, 11-1/8 x 8-7/8"](https://4nm167.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/stephanie_mercado_untitled_redmaidpurplemaid_12x9_sm.jpg?time=1721990931)
Mercado’s artwork explores feminist narratives, including women in the labor force, domestic life, and the persecution of women through witch hunts. We often shape our identities by the work that we do, and working conditions can either make or break us. The pandemic re-contextualized the role we each play in creating a functioning society. For many, especially women, blurred work-life boundaries led to mass resignations. Mercado’s artwork evaluates the psychological effects capitalism has on workers and follows the journey of a character that breaks through the mold, in a rediscovery of self.
Emerge is an act of resistance to the pandemic, by creating and manifesting art and magic, from destruction, pain, and loss. Emerge reclaims identity through alternate forms of knowledge and the natural world.