Vintage Materials, Layered Meanings: Introducing Kristy Battani

Julie Ahmad
May 22
1 min read

Kristy Battani creates work that’s as much about reflection as it is about process. A former attorney based in Austin, she stepped away from a legal career to explore a more hands-on form of storytelling. Her materials are often pulled from the past: vintage manuals, maps, handwritten letters, and documents that once served a specific role. She cuts, arranges, and reimagines them into something entirely new.

Her process is careful and intentional. She chooses each fragment for how it fits visually but also for the weight it might carry. The paper textures, muted colors, and repetition give the work a textile-like feel, but the message runs deeper. Kristy’s art looks at the systems we’ve created—whether bureaucratic, cultural, or personal—and explores how they break down, evolve, or linger in ways we don’t always notice.

The result is artwork that feels familiar but also a little mysterious. There’s a sense of history woven in, but it’s not nostalgic. It’s more like a quiet look at what we carry forward and what we choose to leave behind. Kristy’s pieces ask us to pause, look closer, and maybe even reframe our own stories.

Here at The Women’s Gallery, we’re excited to welcome Kristy and bring her perspective into the mix—offering a thoughtful, distinct voice we’re looking forward to sharing.