Lip Service

Many people think it is just a still life of make up. But it is actually an ironic painting… commenting about male gaze, the objectification of women and violence at the hands of aggressive sic men. See notes below about the symbolism of the painting. It seems that this issue is in the media spotlight, once again, with the crowds of women protesting across the globe in response to sexual assault, oppression and murder at the hands of men. When will it stop? When will men be held accountable? The laws must change to hold these men accountable for their actions.
Symbolism:
Red lip stick / Phallic symbol3
Red nail polish / Blood spilled
Letter / Pleading to stop & crushed dreams
Lip Service & Matchsticks / Men need to hold men accountable
Paper Crane / Unwritten future / Hope

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Born in Georgia USA in 1978, Melissa moved to Australian as a baby and grew up in Windang, on the South Coast NSW. Melissa established a career in advertising since 1999, and started portrait and still life painting in 2012. Melissa has been a finalist in many Australian Art Prizes including the Archibald Prize, Eutick Memorial Still Life Award, Kennedy Prize, Kilgour Prize, Pirtek Still Life Award, Shirley Hannan Portrait Prize, Brisbane Portrait Prize, Black Swan Portraiture Prize, Portia Geach Memorial Art Award, John Copes Portrait Prize and the Percival Portrait Prize. Melissa won Wollongong Art Gallery’s ‘Postcodes from the Edge Art Prize’ in 2016.