The Shame Paintings (2023)

Bodies, spaces and places. These paintings were made when I was feeling unsafe out and about. This feeling wasn’t really about a situation or other specific people - it was more about the complications of having same sex desire and living life with a queer sensibility. What do I mean by this? Well, I am attracted to people who might perceive my attraction as a threat and may retaliate if they feel threatened. I imagine, that the world often feels different to me than it does to them. Safety and risk. Shame and stigma. These paintings are about these things.