Oil on wood

Signed certificate of authenticity.

This painting was made during a time when exploring the connection to queerness and mental illness. The expression of the subject, Alicia, is melancholic, hung on the beautiful, delicate features of her face. The wisps of hair, floating in the wind, depict the fragility and dynamic reality of identity.
The symbolism of the magnolia petals are that of femininity and the ancestral lineage of feminine identity. The petals are juxtaposed amongst expressive, abstract brush markings that push ancient Yin energy into the dynamic and varying fabric of sexuality.

I wanted to express the lonely reflections of an individual when living both a celebrated and condemned life. Express both the liberation of living as an authentic self and the depression that can arise against the walls of exclusion.

In a room, I want this to be a centre piece for reflection and contemplation, on the beauty of human experience. The versatility of the realism portrait against the abstract background allows it to present beautifully and gently in any space.

It is finished with a wax varnish.