ARTIST STATEMENT
My work explores female-identified experiences of online harassment. Through The Sticker Project and When Did My Body Not Become My Own?, I examine the lack of legal language and frameworks to define digital abuse, while addressing the evolving challenges technology presents.
In The Sticker Project, screenshots of online abuse are transformed into stickers and placed in public spaces. This act bridges virtual harm and physical reality, exposing the uninhibited nature of online harassment. Audience participation is central—participants place the stickers in public locations while sharing reflections on their own experiences, extending the conversation beyond gallery walls and transforming public space into a living exhibition.
When Did My Body Not Become My Own? evolves from The Sticker Project into an installation of photographs featuring text from harassing messages printed directly onto participants’ skin. This embodiment compels viewers to confront the physical and emotional impact of digital abuse. By documenting both personal narratives and collective behavior, my work exposes how patriarchal power operates across digital and physical realms. Misogyny long predates the internet, but now it spreads at the speed of terabits, carrying zettabytes of harm. I aim to foster broader discourse around gender, visibility, and the far-reaching implications of online violence in an increasingly digital landscape.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Maiyan Linane is a socially engaged artist based in Boise, Idaho. Her work explores the intersections of gender, technology, and power, often drawing from lived experiences to examine the impact of online harassment and digital violence. With a BFA in Visual Arts, emphasizing Art Metals, from Boise State University and an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts, Linane blends conceptual depth with material sensitivity across various media.
Rooted in both craft and contemporary discourse, her practice bridges digital and physical spaces—challenging systems of control, patriarchal structures, and societal norms. Through participatory installations and intimate documentation, she invites public engagement and fosters critical dialogue around identity, embodiment, and collective resilience.
Linane’s work is marked by a commitment to accessibility and social awareness, often extending beyond traditional gallery spaces into public and online platforms. She continues to live and create in Boise, where she contributes to the local art community while participating in broader conversations on justice, gender, and technology.
© Maiyan Linane