2023

I painted this image of Sinéad O’Connor in 2023 for my spouse, who is a lifelong fan of O’Connor’s outspoken nature, sensitive lyrics, and punk rock attitude. This was painted before O’Connor’s untimely death, and was a formal meditation on reproducing visual truth and on how the unvarnished truth can make one a provocateur.

2023

This is a portrait of Sinéad O’Connor which comes from a webcam selfie found online after O’Connor’s death. I was interested in portraying older women because they are so rarely paid attention to as beautiful. I am interested in capturing the lines, wear, and spots as a physical record of a human being’s individual emotional experience.
O’Connor was so outspoken and true to herself, and she was viciously punished for that by the public. While painting her, I imagined the bittersweet heartbreak of being widely appreciated for her art, but vilified for her beliefs, path of self discovery, and the pain of so much public exposure. While I will never fully know what O’Connor experienced, on some level I can relate, which is the most important aspect of being human in my opinion.

2023

Dame Maggie Smith is a figure I admire for her direct opinionated nature. While it’s well known she didn’t find the role of professor McGonagall intellectually challenging, it is how I was introduced to her.
Having seen more of her work throughout my life, I’ve come to see her as a role model. She was a brilliant and confident woman who dared to age in front of the camera while portraying complicated figures in multiple languages. Her sharp wit, tongue, and the empathy apparent in her portrayal of complex people makes her beautiful, in my mind.
I chose to paint her as an older woman because I see the physical markers of age as a record of a life lived which is extremely personal. In this way, I can imagine her physical and emotional habits based on the lines in her expressive face: all records of deep empathy worth revering.