Projects between world champion bodypainter Trina Merry and contemporary pop artist Lana Love

Malinche

Merry and Love met 6 years ago developing an off-B’way musical workshop turned Netflix Documentary, called Making Malinche with Hans Zimmer and Nacho Cano.  This musical is based on the love story of Malinche and Hernán Cortés and the merging of their two worlds.

Bodies of Evidence: Living Art at the Getty Villa

Merry painted Love and 11 other models for her performance at the Getty Villa.

She connects the ancient fascination with the human figure to the art of optical illusion as she uses the human body as a canvas for exploring the intriguing forms, textures, and patterns of the Getty Villa. In this daylong demonstration, observe live models being painted from head to toe, then discover site-specific interventions that transform the site as bodies morph into artworks, disappear into the architecture, and emerge from the Villa's gardens.

Lost Boys Music Video

They recently collabed on Love’s music video “Lost Boy” - where Merry painted Love as a 24k gold goddess.

Lost Boy tells the story of a girl who turns pain into beauty and strength. The new single see’s the US hip-hop-infused pop artist open up on her previous experience of sexual assault and offer a voice for others who’ve been through a similar situation. “I wanted to create a world where the divine feminine is reclaimed.”

SXSW Performance with Dippie’s NFT Art

Merry painted Love for her topless performance with NFT art creator Dippies (Digital Hippie) at their picnic event outside SXSW NFT conference.  Love was compensated for her performance with a one-of-a-kind Dippies NFT “Funk Empathy”. Bridging the gap between digital tech and human experience, Merry body painted a t-shirt featuring Love’s NFT in about an hour. 

“We wanted to address the freedom NFTs are bringing to contemporary art culture. What a better way than to bring one to life,” says Trina Merry.

SXSW Cowgirl Prank

Merry spent 3 hours painting on a western vintage-inspired bubble gum pop pink fit with turquoise trim, bedazzled with rhinestones on Love. Wearing only a thong, nipple coverings, and bodypaint, Love walked around the streets of Austin during SXSW to see if anyone would notice. 

They created this optical illusion bodypaint prank to cheer people up during the pandemic at this legendary tech-meets-art festival. They turned heads as attendees did double takes, smiled, and even cheered. Love serenaded and danced with attendees.

“It was an all-eyes-on-me moment”, said Love, “It was so liberating”.

Merry and Love walked up south Congress finishing at the bridge with bats flying overhead at sunset, overlooking the Austin City Skyline and Texas capital building. 

What’s Next:

Merry & Love are collaborating on a top secret immersive human sculpture performance in San Francisco in May.