Exposed
a series about the struggles of women
Inspired by the bold expressionism of German artist Käthe Kollwitz, whose raw, emotive lines captured the suffering of war victims and the oppressed, I sought to create a series that visually explores the emotional turmoil and silent struggles of women today.
While earning my Bachelor of Fine Arts, I developed Exposed—a body of work that examines the internal conflicts women face, including:
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Childhood trauma
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Relationship dysfunction
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Identity struggles
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Conformity to stereotypes
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Societal expectations
My intention with this series was to give a visual voice to the unseen emotional battles women endure—a way to externalize what often remains internalized.
Now, as a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Art Therapist, I continue this work in a therapeutic space, integrating Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Expressive Arts Therapy to help women process and heal from trauma. Whether through paint, movement, or storytelling, art remains a powerful tool for self-discovery and empowerment—both in my personal artistic journey and in the work I do with clients today.
Alone
The first in the series, So Alone, suggests isolation and rebirth, which is represented through the fetal position of the nude. By using transparent watercolors of blue and purple with a linear texture of gesso and a nude figure, I am speaking of loneliness, isolation, abandonment, and exposure. The use of a single female figure in a curled, fetal position was chosen to symbolize birth and new beginning.
As the series progresses, the figure’s pose gradually opens, the colors begin to warm, and the rain like texture disappears to suggest an awakening into one’s self.
Torn Apart
To explore the subject matter further, I began to experiment with acrylic media on canvas. This allowed me a deeper exploration of color, contrast and texture to express the emotion content of the series. In the painting, Torn Apart, I used the abstract, “cut up” female figure which fills the canvas, large textured brush strokes, and strong contrasting colors of red, purple and white to deliberately exaggerate the “breaking open” and awakening of the self. Through this, I hope to communicate the feelings of anger and dissociation many women experience as a result of trauma. In addition, to express the internal battle it requires to achieve their goals while being pressured to conform and meet the demands of society.
Expansion
The series, Exposed, reflects my passion to visually explore internal reactions to the trauma and hidden barriers prevalent in the present day. The use of paint, paper and canvas has given me the opportunity to create a visual dialogue with the viewer and invite an emotional response that may open the heart to a deeper understanding and more compassionate response to women as they explore their own trauma, identity and role in society today.
