Saved

Upcycled magazines and book pages, gold leaf

In this collage, Cynthia Wood, once objectified in Playboy Magazine has been liberated from the male gaze. By re-contextualizing her image, she has become an empowered figure radiating confidence in her sexuality. In this new narrative, she is her own savior - a Christ-like figure reclaiming her agency. The repurposing of vintage materials also reflects my dual role as an archivist and artist: preserving the past while imaging it for a new perspective.

Holy Terrain

Upcycled magazine pages

Inspired by FKA Twigs’ song of the same name, this collage explores the sacredness of women’s bodies. Like the earth, women’s bodies curve with the land and are capable of creating life. The moon, a symbol of emotion and nurturing in astrology, further underscores the divine connection between women and nature.

Man Enough

Upcycled magazine pages and iridescent card stock

This collage celebrates the full spectrum of the LGBTQ+ community. It calls for dismantling traditional masculinity, celebrates self-acceptance, and encourages rejecting conformity. Playful winks come in the form of repurposed text (from a Playboy Magazine deodorant ad) and the inclusion of violets and purple pansies - a nod to Pride colors and poking fun at stereotypical language.This piece is a reminder that being true to yourself, no matter your identity, is the manliest (or most fabulous) thing you can be.

I’m Every Woman, 1

Upcycled and woven magazine pages

This collage is part of a series exploring the medium of woven paper. By incorporating the nude figures of multiple women into the primary subject, this collage symbolizes the interconnectedness of female experiences. It suggests that we are all composites of the women we’ve encountered - influenced by our mothers, sisters, friends, and lovers.

Image coming soon

I’m Every Woman, 2

Upcycled and woven magazine pages

This collage is part of a series exploring the medium of woven paper. By incorporating the nude figures of multiple women into the primary subject, this collage symbolizes the interconnectedness of female experiences. It suggests that we are all composites of the women we’ve encountered - influenced by our mothers, sisters, friends, and lovers.

A Home of Her Own

Upcycled magazine pages

This collage reimagines a woman’s escape from societal constraints. The woman featured in the collage defies societal expectations by seeking solace in the cosmos and freeing herself from patriarchal dominance. This collage advocates for living life on ones own terms.

The Sailmaker

Upcycled magazine pages

Built to Be Seen, Not Heard

Upcycled magazine pages and mirrored card stock

Let’s Get Involved

Created using up-cycled magazine pages

Secret Sanctuary

Upcycled book pages

Taste This Offer

Upcycled magazine and book pages

Sweet Dreaming

Upcycled magazine pages

Surreal Existence

Upcycled magazine pages

This collage explores the structure of domestic life versus the freedom of nature. While the woman in the picture gazes at herself in a mirror in grayscale, the untamed beauty of nature appears around her in vibrant color, suggesting that a bright new world awaits her when she’s ready to free herself from patriarchal constraints.

Dreams

Upcycled woven magazines pages

In the Clouds

Upcycled magazine pages

Dream

Upcycled magazine pages and woven iridescent card stock

Hit the Slopes

Upcycled magazine pages

This piece delves into the enigmatic terrain of heterosexual intimacy, suggesting that the intricate nature of a woman’s anatomy is similar to conquering a formidable peak. But with patience and determination, even the most daunting summits can be scaled!

Pothead

Upcycled magazine and book pages

I Enjoy Sex

Upcycled magazine pages

How To Serve Men

Upcycled magazine and book pages

Inspired by the imagery of Salome serving John the Baptist’s decapitated head on a platter and Artemisia Gentileschi’s graphic version of “Judith Slaying Holofernes,” this collage subverts the traditional concept of service and challenges the patriarchal narrative that women are subservient to men.

Made of Stone

Upcycled magazines pages

Bed of Roses

Upcycled magazine and book pages

Secure

Created using up-cycled magazine pages

Garden Gossip

Upcycled book pages

This vibrant collage celebrates the bonds of female friendship, reclaiming the power of gossip – a practice once criminalized to silence women and suppress the spread of crucial information. It underscores how this seemingly casual exchange can not only be a source of joy and social connection but also a powerful tool for sharing essential knowledge and, at times, even saving lives.

Feminist Fantasy

Upcycled magazine pages

This collage features three women sunbathing and relaxing in the middle of a rose with the words “Feminist Fantasy” beneath them. This piece suggests that in a perfect, feminist-minded world (perhaps with no men in sight), women would experience pure bliss and enlightenment.