Gloss and grit, 2023

Mixed media

9 x 12 in

This collage is a mixed media piece that combines fragments from fashion magazines with bold paint strokes, glue, and dynamic cut-outs from paint pours. By tearing, layering, and reassembling these elements, I explore the themes of beauty, consumerism, and identity often portrayed in mainstream fashion culture. The word “Vogue” appears among red-painted circles around women’s faces, emphasizing the interplay between individuality and the industry’s ideals of femininity and style.

This piece serves as a reflection on how fashion imagery shapes societal views while allowing for personal reinterpretation. The vibrant, textured composition questions the limits of representation and the stories hidden beneath glossy pages.