Summer Portraits
July 2015
"XY"
Exhibition Text
I chose to emulate dadaism. This was my first time emulating the movement. I wanted to incorporate dadaist elements into my piece because of the significance that they carry towards conveying my overall theme of and gender identity/womanhood. The theme of this specific piece, is intersectionality. A huge concern of mine for this piece, was not making it too over the top, or lacking balance. I chose the black and white color scheme, for that reason. I wanted it to be simplistic, because I felt that I could convey the idea of intersectionality in a very distracting and orderless way. It was a challenge to incorporate all of these overlapping facets that create identity, but remain simple. Therefore, every aspect of the piece from the size, background, and just overall composition needed to be meaningful. I think that I conveyed this theme well, because I approached it differently than how I approached the concept for my last piece, which was also another concern of mine. I also, wanted the audience to really see the artist and movement influence for the piece, because essentially that is what made up the concept and overall piece.
I chose to emulate dadaism. This was my first time emulating the movement. I wanted to incorporate dadaist elements into my piece because of the significance that they carry towards conveying my overall theme of and gender identity/womanhood. The theme of this specific piece, is intersectionality. A huge concern of mine for this piece, was not making it too over the top, or lacking balance. I chose the black and white color scheme, for that reason. I wanted it to be simplistic, because I felt that I could convey the idea of intersectionality in a very distracting and orderless way. It was a challenge to incorporate all of these overlapping facets that create identity, but remain simple. Therefore, every aspect of the piece from the size, background, and just overall composition needed to be meaningful. I think that I conveyed this theme well, because I approached it differently than how I approached the concept for my last piece, which was also another concern of mine. I also, wanted the audience to really see the artist and movement influence for the piece, because essentially that is what made up the concept and overall piece.
"Misandrist"
October 2015
Digital Portrait
Digital Portrait
Exhibition Text
This piece, I think was the most different from the other pieces that I had done. I really took a different approach for the concept. I looked through a more satirical lens, when creating this concept. I wanted the theme to really be about portrayal of women, and misogyny in the media. The pageant, beauty queen represents women in the media. Her sash, represents the opposite of how society and the media publicly portray women. I emulated pop art, because of how pop art is really centered around pretty women being sad about men and being in love. I think that I wanted to be more rebellious and unexpected with this piece. Before this year, I had done a lot of pieces about beauty standards, and more sad toned pieces. So far this piece, I really wanted it to be ironic, when you really look at the piece and consider every element of it. I'm really proud of this piece. It was my first digital collage. I wanted to experiment with a new medium, so I strayed from painting.
This piece, I think was the most different from the other pieces that I had done. I really took a different approach for the concept. I looked through a more satirical lens, when creating this concept. I wanted the theme to really be about portrayal of women, and misogyny in the media. The pageant, beauty queen represents women in the media. Her sash, represents the opposite of how society and the media publicly portray women. I emulated pop art, because of how pop art is really centered around pretty women being sad about men and being in love. I think that I wanted to be more rebellious and unexpected with this piece. Before this year, I had done a lot of pieces about beauty standards, and more sad toned pieces. So far this piece, I really wanted it to be ironic, when you really look at the piece and consider every element of it. I'm really proud of this piece. It was my first digital collage. I wanted to experiment with a new medium, so I strayed from painting.
"Forbidden Fruit"
November 2015
Mixed Media
Mixed Media
Exhibition Text
With all of my works this year, I think that my growth as an artist is evident through how my concepts have developed. The theme for this piece, was fertility and sexuality. This was my first piece that had that kind of theme and approach. However, this piece is still very symbolic similar to my previous works. The papaya represents female anatomy and fertility. The hands represent women reclaiming their bodies. I created this piece kind of as a response to how women, and nudity are portrayed in the media. Nudity and anatomy are not to be sexualized all the time, because our bodies serve an initial purpose. Sexualizing the human body disregards that purpose. For this piece, it's about women and reproduction and how the media claims and objectifies women. I wanted this piece to be empowering, but also reflective. I used warm colors and the chalk pastels because of their softer and more blurry texture, to represent femininity. The background is painted with black acrylic paint, and chalk pastels. I wanted their to be contrast between the papaya, and the more harsh background.
With all of my works this year, I think that my growth as an artist is evident through how my concepts have developed. The theme for this piece, was fertility and sexuality. This was my first piece that had that kind of theme and approach. However, this piece is still very symbolic similar to my previous works. The papaya represents female anatomy and fertility. The hands represent women reclaiming their bodies. I created this piece kind of as a response to how women, and nudity are portrayed in the media. Nudity and anatomy are not to be sexualized all the time, because our bodies serve an initial purpose. Sexualizing the human body disregards that purpose. For this piece, it's about women and reproduction and how the media claims and objectifies women. I wanted this piece to be empowering, but also reflective. I used warm colors and the chalk pastels because of their softer and more blurry texture, to represent femininity. The background is painted with black acrylic paint, and chalk pastels. I wanted their to be contrast between the papaya, and the more harsh background.
"Deprecitiated"
November 2015
Digital Portrait
Digital Portrait
Exhibition Text
I wanted this piece, conceptually, to encompass all of my more minor themes from this year. It's a simple piece, inspired by fauvism, but it is symbolic. The colors and overlapping effects of fauvism played a huge role in conveying the theme of identity. I also wanted the themes to be women of color, and sexual orientation. Those two themes, on top of fertility, women in the media, white feminism, and male dominance create the concept for this piece. There are so many aspects that make up not only us as people, but make up women that have been overlooked in feminism. I identify with this piece, a lot. When I look at it, I think that it is me. However, the woman is supposed to be someone that is underrepresented, which is why I titled it, "depreciated." The aspects of fauvism played a significant role in this piece, because of how I chose to use warm and cool colors in contrast towards each other. The different aspects of identity and womanhood are represented through those colors, shapes, lines, and textures. This being my last piece, I really wanted to encompass my recurring theme,and not just carry an individual theme. All of my pieces from this year, are my favorites, but I really love this one in particular because of how symbolic and conclusive it is.
I wanted this piece, conceptually, to encompass all of my more minor themes from this year. It's a simple piece, inspired by fauvism, but it is symbolic. The colors and overlapping effects of fauvism played a huge role in conveying the theme of identity. I also wanted the themes to be women of color, and sexual orientation. Those two themes, on top of fertility, women in the media, white feminism, and male dominance create the concept for this piece. There are so many aspects that make up not only us as people, but make up women that have been overlooked in feminism. I identify with this piece, a lot. When I look at it, I think that it is me. However, the woman is supposed to be someone that is underrepresented, which is why I titled it, "depreciated." The aspects of fauvism played a significant role in this piece, because of how I chose to use warm and cool colors in contrast towards each other. The different aspects of identity and womanhood are represented through those colors, shapes, lines, and textures. This being my last piece, I really wanted to encompass my recurring theme,and not just carry an individual theme. All of my pieces from this year, are my favorites, but I really love this one in particular because of how symbolic and conclusive it is.