Antoinette (Annie) Legnini

Categories: Teaching Artist, Visual Arts, Community Arts

Bio:

Antoinette “Annie" Legnini (b. 1994, The Bronx) is a painter and draftsperson working with mixed media, collage, assemblage, and installation. She received a B.A. from Fordham University in Visual Arts and Women’s Studies in 2016 and an M.F.A. in Painting at the New York Academy of Art in 2022. Legnini has participated in residencies at the BX Arts Factory, Otis College of Art and Design, and Con Artist Collective. Legnini is best known for her ongoing collaborative community art project called “Bronx Faces” - a series that pairs the stories and experiences of Bronxites with a mixed media portrait. She has taught at Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education, Spark NYC, the Hudson River Museum, and the New York Academy of Art. Legnini is a current recipient of the 2022-20323 Chubb Fellowship at the New York Academy of Art.

Anthony/1989/Cauldwell "One memory that stands out the most from growing up in the Bronx would have to be when me and my boy Jordan would have a routine of linking up and either going to 23 park and play some ball and or walk to 149 and 3rd Ave, cop an icy white tee followed by a fresh pair of Pepe jeans then we would head to Forest Projects and go to this lady who sold empanadas for just a buck out her window on the first floor. There's a handful of great spots in Bronx to eat but the best food spot for me in the Bronx would have to be this Ecuadorian spot called Lucho Barrios on 148 and 3rd Ave my pops put me on to this spot. My favorite meal to eat would have to be chaulafan, it's a mixture of chicken, shrimp, pork/crispy bacon with fried rice and scrambled eggs with cilantro! Shout out to Sabrosura as well! First time I tried the food was on Castle Hill soo wavyyyyyy." Made with chipboard, acrylic paint, fabric, tissue paper, padding, poster board, iridescent reflective plastic, pipe cleaners, gold artistic wire, yarn, and reusable mesh nylon netting. 17x11.5." 2018.

Street Librarian. Oil paint, acrylic paint, charcoal, graphite, donated books and comics, metrocards, iridescent cellophane wrap, painter’s tape, stickers, cable locks, and a Gun Hill Brewery coaster on Arches watercolor paper adhered to shaped chipboard; Scrap wood, mesh wire, and glass mosaic tile; Acrylic paint on wall. 101x102.” 2022.

Denasia/1992/Southern Blvd "Apart from "the chicken spot" where everyone in the hood met to eat or just chill. The best food place to me was actually Egidio Pastry Shop in Little Italy. It's also were I have my favorite memory. I stayed at my grandma’s apartment a lot as a child and every summer it was occupied by me and my ten cousins. We were like bebe's kids and we would always sneak out at night to run the streets. I don't know how this tradition started but every Friday night we would leave the house exactly at 1 AM and go to Egidio's, which was only a 10 minute walk away, and knock on the door. There a beautiful old Italian man by the name of Joey greeted all of us bad ass little Black kids as if we were apart of his family. He'd always give us two boxes full of all the pastries he didn't sell that day. While making sure to remind us to stay out of trouble and stay in school. That was the highlight of every single Friday for three of my summers. Joey passed away sometime after that third summer. This memory will always be precious for me because it showed how small business owners of The BX were just as much a member of the community as the random children running the streets and everyone looked out for each other.” Made with gouache paint, watercolor paint, watercolor paper mounted to chipboard, Pokémon cards, hot glitter glue, and an Egidio’s pastry box. 17x15.” 2021.

Nilka/1975/Soundview “I absolutely love the Bronx and I want everyone to know that we are so much more than the home of the Yankees, the Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Garden. The Bronx is NYC's only mainland borough, the home to NYC's only fresh water river, the Bronx River, home to NYC's largest public park, Pelham Bay Park, we are the birthplace of Hip Hop, 1520 Sedgwick, the place where the Piccirilli Brothers set shop and carved the NYPL's iconic lions and Lincoln for the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. We were the forgotten borough, where people chose to stay, fight, rebuild, reclaim and became the very change they sought out.” Made with mixed media paper mounted to chipboard, acrylic paint, oil paint, bicycle tires, ribbon, and plastic. 18.5x20.5.” 2019.

Danny (The Dancer) Oil paint, acrylic paint, laminating sheets, vinyl, Walgreens bags, incense wrappers, and watercolor paper, adhered to shaped chipboard. Acrylic paint painted directly onto wall and floor. 101x110x6.5 inches. 2021-2022.

Daniela/1996/Country Club "My neighborhood is usually very peaceful and is great to just walk around in. It's at its best during the spring. The blossoming trees and flowers just make it absolutely beautiful. The best food spot, in my opinion, was Quality Diner which has unfortunately been shut down... my favorite order there was the vegetarian wrap! Sushi Q is also a great spot, I'd always get the vegetable rice and gyoza." Made with gouache paint, mixed media paper mounted to chipboard, fabric, decorative paper, and a take out sushi menu. 2020.

Marco/1994/Pelham Bay “Going to Louie and Ernie’s Pizzeria down Crosby Avenue brings back a lot of memories. Whether it was for a quick bite, family dinner, dates with girlfriends or just simple corner loitering with friends - Louie and Ernie’s was the spot for it all. My mom would always get a Manhattan Special with her slice; I’ll leave it to the readers to look up what that is. I always thought their Sicilian slices reigned supreme but to each is own. Can’t forget about Teresa’s Italians Ices & Cafe right next door either, a great finish to a simple and satisfying meal. Pizza and Italian Ices will never go out of style in the Bronx.” Made with oil paint, mixed media paper mounted to chipboard, feathers, bottle caps, embroidery yarn, twine, and baseball cards. 15x10.” 2019.

Rose. Oil paint, acrylic paint, charcoal, laminating sheets, gold leaf, jewelry, pens, a composition notebook, fishing wire, iridescent cellophane wrap, light molding paste, and soft pastel on Arches watercolor paper; Soft pastel on wall. 101x84.” 2021.

Vanessa/1990/Highbridge "What stands out the most from living in the Bronx is the diversity of my two worlds as a child. I went to school Uptown but resided Downtown. I was constantly exposed to the different cultures, food, fashion, societal rules/standards and languages regardless of the specific origin or my knowledge of it. In its own way, showing me the differences, showed me the similarities. The best food spot is Flavas on 161 Street and Gerard Avenue! I'm obsessed with the pepper steak with white rice and oxtail gravy with baked mac & cheese & plantains. And of course a smoothie for the road! There is so much culture, life, love, passion and history here. My neighborhood is a gem and not one to be stolen. Admired, explored, appreciated, even utilized but not to be altered and dismantled. Just know, The Bronx is NOT Burning! We are shining, Beloved." Made with mixed media paper mounted to chipboard, Prismacolor colored pencils, acrylic paint, tissue paper, ribbon, gold metal leaf, and coffee filters. 18x12.” 2020.

Naileza/1990/Rosedale Ave "The thing that I remember most about The Bronx is summertime playing in the pump and icees from the icy lady also three dollar chicken spot meals with my cousins." Made with colored pencil, watercolor, napkins, a plastic bag, clear colorless plastic film, hot glue, and mixed media paper mounted to chipboard. 11.75 x 10.875." 2022.