Monday, December 9, 10:00am – 1:30pm, Owen Hall 203 and via Zoom
Mariana Restrepo-Molina
Dr. Suzanne Dittenber, Dr. Robert Anderson
Sexualization, objectification, violence and shame are at the forefront of many women, girls and femme presenting people’s everyday lives due to the bodies they inhabit. The experience of girlhood, coming of age and the loss of innocence as a femme person within the patriarchy is often very traumatic due to the scary realization of the vulnerable position they hold in society. This body of work seeks to center the female gaze through portraits representing and uplifting femme people from all walks of life. The intersection of gender identity, race, and sexuality make each experience unique while ultimately being a part of a universal experience of pain caused by the patriarchy. Historically, portraiture of women has been dominated by male artists often portraying them as objects for the pleasure of male viewers. Reclaiming and rewriting misogynist narratives through the unapologetic expression of femininity, often viewed as frivolous; is an act of resistance which demands attention and to be taken seriously. Through the process of painting femme people, overtly feminine objects and cute animals, the artist portrays the tenderness, vulnerability, resilience and value they have despite the challenges and judgment they face.