The Harvard Square Business Association, in partnership with Intercontinental Management, is pleased to welcome “Incarnated Love”, the latest installation at the 25/8 artspace project located at 2 Linden Street in Harvard Square.
Behind VA Shadows presents this solo exhibition by Janella Mele, show which is on view through May 17th. This exhibition showcases a three-year body of work developed during Mele’s time at Central Street Studios in Somerville. Through a series of evocative black-and-white drawings and luminous, immersive paintings, Incarnated Love navigates the deeply interconnected terrain of identity, experience, and relationality.
Denise Jillson, executive director of the Harvard Square Business Association, commented, “We are so thankful to Intercontinental Management for continuing to foster the arts in the public way. This popup gallery exhibits beautiful artwork that is to be enjoyed “from the street” in an unexpected location in Harvard Square.”
Combining her training in animation with her practice as a tattoo artist, Mele considers movement as a generative force in every line and gesture. Her works channel the shifting energies of the subconscious, often realized through self-tattoo performance, live painting, and drawn animations. These acts become rituals of healing and connection—materializing her own emotional processes while inviting viewers to reflect on their own inner transformations.
Courtesy by Behind VA Shadows
Mele’s distinct visual vocabulary oscillates between intricate monochrome compositions and soft, vibrant color fields that together explore how love—in its many forms—is embodied, performed, and transmitted. She presents the self as a relational construct, forged through bonds with comrades, communities, and environment. Through this lens, Mele reimagines artistic practice as both personal catharsis and collective invocation.
Courtesy by Behind VA Shadows
Mele’s background includes over 400 hours working as a Visitor Assistant in Yayoi Kusama’s LOVE IS CALLING Infinity Mirror Room at the ICA Boston. This experience, along with her ongoing work at Hidden Vibes Tattoo in Cambridge, MA, continues to shape her exploration of presence, ritual, and interpersonal energy within public and private spaces.
From the artist:
“Our connections make possible and nourish every individual’s ability to create. I hope this show inspires you to make something and share it with someone.”
Courtesy by Behind VA Shadows
Behind VA Shadows, founded in December 2022, is a public art project currently based at 2 Linden St, Cambridge, MA, 02138. The initiative seeks to break down barriers between art and the public, extending artistic accessibility beyond institutional walls. We advocate for the recognition of working artists within art museums and institutions, valuing their dual roles as professionals and creators.
Behind VA Shadows produces a series of art exhibitions at the 25/8 artspace curated by artist Yolanda He Yang, which is co-presented by the Harvard Square Business Association and Intercontinental Management, located at 2 Linden Street in Harvard Square.