‘But Where Are You From, From?’ A transatlantic exhibition on identity, borders, and belonging

JANS – The Arts Center of Mississippi, 201 E. Pascagoula St., Jackson, presents “But Where Are You From, From?”, a solo exhibition by artist Christy Meshel. Opening on May 1 and running through May 31, 2026, the exhibition explores how identity, nationality, and belonging are constructed, questioned, and imposed across cultures. 

Drawing from her background as both an artist and licensed immigration attorney, Meshel’s practice bridges storytelling, lived experience, and social critique. Born in Canton, Mississippi, and now based in Barcelona, her work reflects a transnational perspective shaped by movement, memory, and cultural inheritance. 

Through mixed-media works combining textiles, layered surfaces, and text, the exhibition examines the persistent and often intrusive question: “Where are you from?” and its loaded follow-up, “But where are you from, from?” Far from neutral curiosity, these questions reveal how people attempt to categorize identity through race, accent, and appearance. 

The exhibition positions migration not as an exception, but as a natural condition. Long before borders and nation-states, movement defined life itself. By contrast, contemporary systems of nationality impose rigid frameworks that shape belonging, exclusion, and perception. 

Meshel’s work interrogates how these systems operate globally, addressing themes such as the construction of borders and their impact on identity; the relationship between culture, erasure, and memory; the role of race, class, and language in defining origin; and the shared experiences of racialized and immigrant communities. The exhibition also challenges assumptions about where racism is most visible, suggesting that silence can mask harm just as much as conflict can expose it. 

“But Where Are You From, From?” invites viewers to reconsider how identity is assigned, perceived, and negotiated, and to confront the limitations of the frameworks we use to define one another. 

Opening reception: May 1st, 5-7 pm. RSVP: https://partiful.com/e/5Lh0aXyx UQ9GATSMwIxq?c=sFDi H3d3. For more information, call 601-960-2030.