I have always been surrounded by concrete. I was born in New York City and have lived here for most of my life. As a young girl, I would gaze upon the urban landscape; the mass and stature of each building overwhelmed me. I was the only girl in a male-dominated household. My father ruled his home with an iron fist, and like the buildings that surrounded me, I felt powerless.  This series of paintings symbolize women's attempt to surpass male domination.

      Through the use of acrylic, oil, and paper, I have created an imaginative version of New York City. I seldom plan my paintings. Instead, I use various complimentary colors and create 2-3D buildings through a pallet knife or brush.  Once the canvas is covered with these abstract shapes, the female figure is placed somewhere in between them.  

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    This series reads like a story. Initially, the buildings take over the entire landscape. Somewhere within these giant masses of concrete is a nude female object. Gradually, the form is broken down into pieces: an eye, a torso, or lips. This suggests the female form is attempting to break through. Finally, a coherent figure emerges. She is no longer a  two-dimensional silhouette, but a three-dimensional form that takes over the entire canvas.  My goal is to encourage the viewers to question how they see women. Are they simple objects in a man's world? Or do they have the ability to define their own existences?