Conceptual nominee

"Venus With The Head Of Roses" is one of the original titles for Dali’s painting of the flower girl, who is associated with Venus. I decided to take it one step further and use Botticelli’s painting “The Birth Of Venus” as a literal inspiration.

Queer representation in classical and surreal art isn’t there the way heteronormative structures are. For example, without taking away from their absolute genius, these two paintings are of women painted by men.
There’s something powerful about reimagining works I grew up admiring. There’s something healing and mending in this kind of a creative process.

I create digital composites that embody two traits I have: I’m a pragmatist and a dreamer. I’m fascinated by forces of nature and the human body. I have an urge to understand how life and nature works; that same urge pushed me to complete a M.Sc degree in Chemistry. I’m moved by observing natural phenomena and human interactions. I tend to create imagery with a “darker feel” to shed light on mysteries that are unknown to us; the connection of human emotion to natural process. I also tend to play with elements of sexuality and perceived taboos.