Unraveling Women

When I cry of sadness I see a blue leaden sky, that devours my body in the expanse of its great oceans. I find myself crying often, when I think about my youth, when I think about a collection of unique individuals who want the freedom to express their love in a world that will endlessly accept them. And how that world doesn’t, yet, exist.

When I kiss my wife I see a velvet red blanket with the texture of a luxurious chenille. The rosy pink dances around me and I suddenly feel safe. My glasses have been put on and the world is basked in a new light. The happiness is overcoming, filling my body with the yellow that I paint and paint. Until it mixes with the leaden sky and makes the vast fields and evergreens that eventually become us.

My emotions have always been tied to colors, as my expression has always been tied to art. It is my hope to portray the reality of women. To unravel them into the emotional beings we are. To create a narrative of women loving women in any form. I have yet to see a world that accepts this art and appreciation for those of us who seek the peace, softness, and beauty of women. That is why my art is neon, as I am emotional and see the world in only

those feelings.

For me, this creative endeavor is not only a means of exploring emotional intelligence but also a pathway to personal growth and expression. Art has always been my medium for communicating emotions that elude verbal expression. What motivated me to embark on this project was the noticeable absence of artistic representation of the lesbian

community. As a young individual, I keenly felt a lack of awareness regarding a type of love that resonated with me.

Despite societal expectations, I found myself conforming to norms by pursuing relationships with men, yet I never experienced the depth of "love" depicted in art and media. This left me feeling like an outsider to conventional standards. However, everything changed when I met my wife, who pushed the boundaries of my emotions into uncharted territory. The love in my life now is as vibrant and profound as the growth I see in my art. Through my work, I aspire to kindle a profound connection with the viewer's soul.

Unraveling Women

In the summer of 2024 I found myself studying abroad in Italy, alone. My wife and I were thousands of miles apart separated by the confines of society and the necessity of work. During this time I found myself among strangers and

friends alike. Here you see one of them. Macie and I sat in a club overlooking the vastness of Florence. The red light illuminated her while she puffed the ‘Shishah’. Behind her a crowd of people raved, bodies sweating from dancing. It made me feel lonely somehow. Until all I saw was the pillows of blue smoke eating them away. Until it was just the two of us wondering again, why in the world we were there.

After 35 days I was salvaged by my wife Jade visiting for our one year wedding anniversary. Lucky for us, it is not a Taboo in Italy to be two women in love and we found ourselves often celebrated by the natives and my family alike. I am Italian by the way, second generation born in America. On this Day we celebrated all over Italy, in our wedding attire. My head felt so large like I could consume all of Florence and let it dance inside my tummy. With the Statue of Neptune Behind us, and the Balmy Yellow sun tickling us pinker and browner, we cooled down with rapidly melting ice creams.

When I returned “home” from Italy I felt really lost. My art was crumpling, and my passion fizzling out. Beyond this, my wife had moved out home from San Francisco to San Diego while I was gone, for family medical reasons. I returned to my belongings in a foreign home. Nothing felt real for many months. I was angry and sad all at the same time. To be away from a place that was my home and now away from a place where I found myself creatively. Inside of me was a light that I still don’t know what to do with. Unfinished, and Tired. Love and Passion waiting to bloom again. For now I hold it in its cage, not letting the fire demon escape.

This is one of 5 paintings of the same models. All expressed in different lightings and colors. This painting is of Jealousy, when the figure on the left see’s someone she loved intwined with another soul. Below you will see her being comforted by a real angel. A friend, a new love, the caress of warm skin against cold tears.

In my paintings I play with surrealistic elements and symbolism. For instance this knife will be found in two other paintings in this series. It represents the murderous side of us and the revenge we seek when scorned. Other Items you may find is Devil horns or eyes. I feel that this play into a side of us that feels watched or is eager to come crawling up inside of us.

Emotions serve as the profound language of our inner selves, and I draw immense inspiration from their raw beauty. I Often employ artificial colorful lighting to maintain control in my paintings and accentuate my creation of imaginative and thought-provoking works that challenge conventional boundaries.

Art has the power to reflect the diversity of human experiences and identities. By depicting lesbians in paintings, I will contribute to greater representation and visibility for LGBTQ+ individuals in the art world and broader society. This representation helps challenge stereotypes, combat erasure, and affirm the existence and validity of lesbian

identities. For lesbians and other members of the LGBTQ+ community, seeing themselves represented in art can be empowering and affirming. It validates their experiences, identities, and relationships, fostering a sense of pride and belonging. Art that celebrates lesbian love and relationships can provide a source of inspiration and affirmation for both LGBTQ+ individuals and allies.