Printmaking has led me on a personal journey to discover my identity as I have come to terms with the effects of gender, self image, and sexual assault in my private life. Mycology, the study of mushrooms, provided a framework for developing my current body of work. Mushrooms have 72 recorded genders and there are more than 6,721 types of “little brown mushrooms,” which are visually indistinguishable from each other, so mycologists rely on taking spore prints from the underside of a mushroom’s to identify its species.
This spore print reveals the true identity of the mushroom, without needing to make assumptions about its outward appearance. To develop a sense of confidence and comfort in discussing sensitive, personal topics, I have developed a personal symbol in the likeness of these spore prints. This symbol is superimposed with my head to represent the way I see myself. It removes my physically defining features, intending to limit the assumptions that may be made if my face were included.

Rae Canigiani is a Pennsylvania based printmaker who earned their B.F.A. with minors in chemistry and art history, from Millersville University in Spring 2021. Rae discovered printmaking in 2018 through their coursework, and since then has found a love for screen printing and incorporating it into story telling mediums like graphic novels and games. Their interests in digital integrations of printmaking and mycology (which is the study of mushrooms) influence their making process and content, which explores their relationship with and discovery of personal identity. Rae is currently pursuing a M.F.A. in Printmaking at Edinboro University to further their skills.