Dagger in the Heart

To wear my heart on my sleeve has always felt like a necessity, though it often comes at a cost. I created this piece to explore the cumulative weight of vulnerability—the "dagger" of past hurts that remains even as we choose to move forward.

In this work, I used bold, expressive brushwork and a stark, high-contrast palette to capture the physical sensation of emotional endurance. My intent was to show that despite the scars and the silver blade of betrayal, the heart remains central, vibrant, and defiantly beating. It is my tribute to the resilience of the human spirit and to those who continue to love openly, even when the world has given them every reason to close off.

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Stephanie Long is a Gold Coast–based artist whose work centres on emotional healing, self-connection, and the quiet processes of inner transformation. Through murals, painting, and mixed media, her practice explores the unseen layers of the human experience—memory, vulnerability, resilience, and renewal.

Painting from lived experience, including motherhood and personal healing journeys, Stephanie creates work that invites pause and reflection. Her visual language is intuitive and expressive, using layered forms, symbolic imagery, and deliberate linework to reflect the complexity of emotional growth and the restoration of the self.

Her work aims to foster emotional connection and presence, transforming environments into spaces that support reflection, healing, and belonging.