Untitled. Canvas fabric and acrylics, 2025.

In this self-portrait piece, I experimented by using different materials and techniques than I normally do. I wanted to show how though people have different sides to them, including the happier, more idealistic side that we show to others and the more hidden, private, and maybe more flawed and darker sides to ourselves, those sides connected together are what make us whole.

I sewed fabric together to show how both our hidden sides and happier slides intertwine. I wanted to show how our darker and happier sides are intertwined to make us whole. The bright colors and highlights on the left show the more visible side to a person - the ideal, “good” side we show to others. I then used darker, cooler colors in the background and on shadows on the face to show the side we hide from others. I sewed the sides together to show how people are only complete with all their sides to them, and how even if we dislike an aspect or a part of ourselves, those flaws help make us who we are.

The imperfect and chaotic stitching helps to show how although I am flawed and the ways in which the different sides to myself come together are not perfect and are sometimes confusing, these things are what make me a whole human being.