Aflame
This piece captures the resilience and boldness of Muslim women from the Middle East in a time when their identity is under attack. This woman rises up in fiery defiance from a background of newspaper articles that negatively portray women from the Middle East. The woman rebels against headlines like “Afghan Assembly on Peace Sees Women As Irrelevant” and “They Kill Us” which exemplify Western media perceptions of Islam as being oppressive towards women and promoting violence. I painted the woman in bright shades of orange with sharp features, and crazy, curly hair. She is bold, unapologetic, unafraid, and aflame.
Acrylic and newspaper on canvas, 24x18 inches, 2019