Prototype 237 and The Fold Present: Uprooted, work by Andrea McKenna
Prototype 237 Directors Alex Pergament and Miranda Dahl, and The Fold Directors Eric and Hoda Saltzman proudly present “Uprooted”, paintings by Andrea McKenna, an interdisciplinary artist known for her distinctive use of burlap, Limestone plaster, and acrylics who has exhibited work throughout the Tri-State Area for over 30 years. Also the Director of Jersey City’s Art House Gallery, McKenna returns to Paterson for the first time in a decade—her last local installation, “Doll House,” was shown at the Art Factory in 2015. Prototype and The Fold are both located on separate floors of the same industrial warehouse at 237 River Street.
The exhibition will be on display at The Fold Gallery (Third Floor) from Friday, September 19th to Sunday, October 12th, 2025. The opening reception will be held Friday, September 19th from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. A closing reception and artist talk will take place on Sunday, October 12th from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
Uprooted will be on view during Prototype’s fifth anniversary party on September 27th, from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Additional gallery viewing hours are: Sunday, September 21st from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM and Sunday, October 5th from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Exhibition viewings are free.
ABOUT THIS EXHIBIT
Uprooted is a compilation of McKenna’s work that spans three years of the artist’s practice.
“I construct broken, textured figures that resemble torn bodies marked with scars—wounds that allow light to emerge, revealing a hidden energy. While I use physical materials, these figures are spiritual in nature, evoking a sense of mystery and the unknown. Working on burlap, I layer limestone plaster with stains and acrylics, sometimes burning the surface as a symbolic act of release—letting go of what once was. The burlap becomes a rich tapestry, layered with color, soot, and memory.
My work invites viewers to shift their perspective, to consider an alternate realm—one that exists between worlds. These figures are not of this world, but perhaps of an "in-between" space, where the spirit is forming, evolving, and preparing for its final destination—shedding earthly burdens and illuminating its inner light”. - Andrea McKenna
ABOUT ANDREA MCKENNA
Andrea McKenna is an interdisciplinary artist focusing on painting and video making. After graduating from The School of Visual Arts, she followed a path in set design, interning at Drew University’s Shakespeare Theater of New Jersey and Fordham College at Lincoln Center. After realizing this was not her dream, she went back to painting and started exhibiting around the tri-state area.
The evolution of her work brought her to create large-scale installations, incorporating found objects and using nontraditional materials in her practice. Her work became a more extensive idea when she discovered her love for video making. Andrea's painted figures are rooted in the spiritual realm, between death and the afterlife. Video-making adds additional layers to these concepts.
Work-life led Andrea to become an interior Faux Finisher. After moving to Jersey City in 1999, she formed her own business, Videre Decorative Arts, which grew a client list spanning the state New Jersey. From March 2014 to September 2017, she co-founded and operated The Raven Gallery and Boutique in downtown Jersey City with best friend, Javiera Rodriguez. This gave the local community a place to show and sell their work and connect with their peers. Additionally, Andrea's involvement as a volunteer for Jersey City’s performing and visual arts Non-Profit, Art House Productions, brought her back into the world of set design, where she worked on several productions and became the lead designer for their largest fundraising gala, Snow Ball. In 2018, she was asked to curate for Art House's gallery and now serves as the Gallery Director.