I Nearly Exploded

Acrylic paint, gel prints, and collage on reverse of plastic sheeting, mounted to art board. 31"x30"x6" Made in 2024. "I Nearly Exploded" is an intense and provocative piece that operates on the edge of satire and social critique. At the heart of the work is an actual street sign, distorted and intertwined with a print of a sexist advertisement that uses a woman’s peak arousal as a sales tool. This juxtaposition immediately confronts the viewer with the absurdity and exploitation inherent in such imagery. Multiple Playboy prints and collage elements are layered throughout the piece, amplifying its chaotic, high- energy composition. These elements speak to the bombardment of sexualized media, particularly its historical targeting of women as both objects and symbols. The inclusion of plain brown bag paper introduces a stark contrast—its humble, utilitarian presence evokes the act of packing a child’s lunch, a mundane yet tender daily task. This choice underscores the tension between societal expectations placed on women: to be caregivers, homemakers, and simultaneously objects of desire. The result is a deeply layered work that critiques the myth of “domestic bliss.” It lays bare the dissonance and pressure of fulfilling multiple roles in a world that often reduces women to stereotypes. With its raw materials and sharp contrasts, "I Nearly Exploded" encapsulates the overwhelming clash of expectations, desires, and identities, creating a piece that is as unsettling as it is compelling.