MY FIERCE AUNT BIANCA - María José Maldonado

My Fierce Aunt Bianca is an exhibition by artist María José Maldonado that traces the life and legacy of her aunt, Bianca “Exotica” Maldonado (1965–1996). Bianca was a ’90s daytime television starlet, dominatrix, iconic figure of New York City’s club scene, and so much more. Sadly, Bianca’s life was cut short by AIDS and government neglect—she passed 12 days before her 31st birthday. Through archival fragments, moving image, and acts of remembrance, the exhibition celebrates Bianca, seeking to recuperate her story, writing her into transgender history through a mode of trans temporal care.

The exhibition is grounded in María José’s practice as a queer Salvadorian-Ecuadorian filmmaker and writer. Her work affirms transness as a vital part of family legacy. They actively participate in all of their documentaries, bringing femininity, tenderness, and a deep sense of intimacy in the stories they tell.

My Fierce Aunt Bianca is both a personal vow…