Pretty Ugly
Pretty Ugly explores the interplay between identity and instinct, where beauty and disruption coexist. Each portrait pairs a woman with a creature that mirrors an inner force such as strength, transformation, grace, or creative complexity. These are not decorative animals. They are components of psychological presence, forces that shape who we are. Pretty Ugly honours the imperfect, the uncanny, and the beautiful that lives beside discomfort.
Frida
Acrylic & mixed media on canvas
58x88cm
Frida meets the world with grace born of vigilance. The crane signifies poise, balance, and loyalty to one’s own path. Where others see fragility, her stance measures patience and enduring elegance.
Tabitha
Acrylic & mixed media on canvas
58x88cm
Tabitha is paused in a state of becoming. The frog atop her head stands for renewal, cleansing, and emotional metamorphosis. She reminds us that transformation is not sudden. It happens in quiet phases beneath the surface.
Margot
Acrylic & mixed media on canvas
58x78cm
Margot carries the koi against her face as if it were part of her own resolve. The koi represents strength and perseverance, the quiet insistence to remain whole through change. Her gaze is calm, but it has endured currents that reshape her without breaking her.
Kato
Acrylic & mixed media on canvas
58x78cm
Kato holds a stillness threaded with complexity. The spider embodies patience, creative manifestation, and inner wisdom. Her multiple eyes and the spider’s presence reflect the inner web we weave as we think, act, and endure.