“With her expressive self-portraits she criticizes American social views about the female identity and contemporary expectations of women.”
–Merel Huisink, Pf Magazine

STATEMENT: Self-Exposure walks the line between reality and artifice; between soul searching and social commentary. Although each image is an introspective and expressive look at my own persona, each is also a critique of commonly held societal beliefs about feminine identity and contemporary expectations of women. The individual characters I create each express either expectations placed upon me as a woman in American society, or echo sentiments of the ideals I wish I could meet but fall far short of. Because these expectations arise from an amalgamation of sources, my characters of self-exposure are amalgamations as well.

PROCESS: Beginning with a specific idea, I photograph myself (and the other elements needed.) Although I currently shoot only using a collection of different iPhone models, I frequently modify them with alternative and handmade lens combinations. I utilize those specifically for the look and feel they lend to my photographs. Using my iPad, I composite these shots together, then heavily manipulate the image to further develop the message. After printing, I add hand-work in charcoal, pastel or pencil, then mount the images to cradled wood panel and hand-coat them with encaustic media.

PRESENTATION: Each work is cut to full bleed, hand worked, and mounted to cradled panel with or without a black wood float frame

MATERIALS: Original photographs, Epson Surecolor P800 pigment ink, Hahnemuhle PhotoRag Ultrasmooth paper, graphite, pastels, oil color, charcoal, encaustic media, gesso, adhesives, cradled birchwood panel

DIMENSIONS: Unframed - 16”w x 20”h by 1.5”d ; Framed - 18.5”w x 22.5”h x 1.5”d

EDITION: Due to the amount of hand work in creating each number in the edition, each work is unique. The work is created as an EV edition of 10 total per image with one artist proof of each image. Work is signed on the verso.

AWARDS: Various works from this series have received the following awards and honors

11th Julia Margaret Cameron Awards (2018) - Runner Up Alternative Process; Runner Up Digital Manipulation and Collage; Honorable Mention Self Portrait
2018 Moscow Photo Awards - Silver, Fine Art-Collage
Photolucida's Critical Mass Competition (2018) - Top 200 Finalist

EXHIBITIONS: Works from this series have been included in the following exhibitions and venues