Artist Statement
Central to my art practice is the reinterpretation of patriarchal signifiers to communicate women's perspectives with a greater depth and nuance. My current work focuses on the unique experiences of aging women, re-imagining Mary Shelley’s "Frankenstein" through the transformative lens of mid-life. By referencing my own body, domestic crafts, and other traditionally feminine domains, my work exposes the psychological effects of deeply ingrained gender and class narratives.
The tactile nature of working with paper and fabric allow for intense engagement with my work, integrating repetitive imagery, materials, and textures to create a dialogue between the visible and the hidden. I create my own tools for manipulating media; using nets, thread, and hair as brushes to move loose graphite powder and press faint images directly into the surface. These expressive drawings create spaces that feel like enterable rooms, where the viewer can reflect on both the constraints imposed by ageism, as well as the relief that comes with shedding societal expectations of physical beauty and female sexuality.
My work seamlessly blends the personal and political, reflecting my own frustrating encounters with the culture of silence and sexism surrounding menopause. It exposes a substantial gap in understanding this life stage and serves as an opportunity to bridge the divide between my own experience and a broader conversation about ageism, sexism, and representation.