Art by Katie Anne

As an artist, I specialise in realist painting and draw inspiration from feminist theory, intertextuality, and semiotics. My work is a challenge to the notion of the reclining nude, and I use Édouard Manet's Olympia and Titian's Venus of Urbino as inspiration. Unlike these artists, I choose to represent women in my paintings fully clothed and lying down, intending to remove the sexualisation of women and incorporate feminist theory into my work. 

My paintings reflect my personal beliefs and experiences as a woman. I use my artwork to draw attention to the issues that women face daily, such as unrealistic beauty standards, abuse, and misogyny. Through my paintings, I aim to create a conversation about these issues and raise awareness about the impact they have on women's lives. 

One of the fundamental aspects of my work is the use of unsettling narratives. I believe that by using visual storytelling, I can highlight the darker side of being a woman and create a powerful emotional impact on the viewer. I often use eye contact in my paintings to engage viewers and encourage them to reflect on the message. Eye contact is a powerful tool that can create a sense of connection between the viewer and the subject, and it helps to convey the emotions and feelings that I want to express in my paintings. 

I draw inspiration from the works of feminist artists such as Cindy Sherman and Barbara Kruger. I admire their ability to challenge the traditional notions of beauty and gender roles and use their artwork to create a dialogue about social issues. Although I no longer use text within my paintings to create the juxtaposition that Barbara Kruger creates, I focus on doing this through the titles of my pieces. My intention is for the viewer to interpret the pieces in their own way and allow for personal reflection.