Femme Flora

All pieces created late 2023/early 2024

Statement

I created the Femme Flora series to investigate three simultaneous interests: femininity, highly saturated color, and botanical subject matter. Somehow, though the three seem unrelated, I could see a way to tie them together and make a distinctive group. 

Femininity

I was curious: why is art by women so inherently appealing to me? Most often when I find work I like, I learn it was created by a woman, especially a young woman like me. What characteristic of womanhood is imbued in this work? How can I identify it and harness it in my own work? And perhaps most importantly: why do so many people and even the high art world hate girly aesthetics? Okay, the last question has an obvious answer, so it’s really only there to ask whether these paintings challenge you, if you find them distasteful- and why. I invite introspection in your reactions. 

Vibrant color

I noticed a common thread between many of the (young and female) artists I was most strongly drawn to: exaggerated color. Some of them even used a fluorescent paint as a ground for their paintings, strengthening the vibrance throughout the process. I decided to practice using this technique and see if it fed into a distinctly feminine aesthetic. 

Botanical subject

Less directly tied to the other two key characteristics of this series, I wanted to put in some hours painting leafy plants. Variegated houseplants particularly captivated me. As I worked through the series, I reflected much on ornamentation and the use of plants (especially flowers, though this isn’t a floral series) in decorative settings. (Not to mention the less-prevalent association with women tending the gardens at home.) Homemaking, fashion, and ornament in general are traditionally associated with my gender, while men are associated with jobs away from the home and providing in a more “practical” fashion. Obviously, these norms were ridiculous when established and nearly never reflective of reality anymore- at least in my world. Nevertheless, excessive ornament is still considered tackier than showing restraint, just as womens' work is considered less valuable than mens', and the rise in minimalist and “sad beige” homes underscores this. 

These are not sad beige paintings. These are vibrant celebrations of girlhood, womanhood, and feminine energy. They exist to prove there is value in work created by and for women. Some people have seen the vibrant pink and turned away, while others have felt seen when they see these plants that are way too much, energetically. If you connect with this work or this writing, please know you’re the unapologetic, vibrant soul I meant to reach with these paintings, and I am so happy you’ve connected with them.