From Under the Armillaria

Bitfactory Gallery at 851 Santa Fe Drive in Denver presents “From Under the Armillaria,” figure paintings in oil by Isabella (Bella) Briganti.

Her artworks are a combination of classic figure painting with abstraction of the body, surrealist elements, and mimics of natural phenomena. The show explores the intricacies of interpersonal relationships, societal networks, and the reflection of these in nature—observations of longing, pain, betrayal, comfort, grief, and confusion.

The name of the show refers to the genus of the honey fungus Armillaria ostoyae. This fungus is the largest known living organism by area and mass; however, the definition of what constitutes an individual in the world of mycology can be blurry. Conceptually, this is mirrored in human relationships—how they can fall apart from miscommunication, not only on a singular scale but on communal and global scales as well. The fractal patterns in the mycelial imagery serve as a reminder of connection, visible and invisible, and of consequences, intended or otherwise. Habits from one are picked up by another, body language is interpreted and reflected, interests are shared, bonds are formed.

This series was initially funded by a grant she received at the completion of her MCA Denver’s Creators Studio Internship in 2024.

Isabella (Bella) Briganti (she/they) is an artist born, raised, and residing in Denver. She graduated in Fall 2023 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Practices at the University of Colorado Denver, with an emphasis in Drawing and Painting, a sub-emphasis in Illustration, and a minor in Biology. Bella has shown her work in more than twenty exhibitions and has worked with galleries and artists such as Jaime Molina, Oliver Herring, and the Emmanuel Gallery.