My favourite art to create is deeply emotive portraiture infused with surrealism, mythology, and symbolism. I love exploring the tension between beauty and darkness, strength and vulnerability, often drawing on themes of grief, identity, femininity, and transformation. Through layers of paint, texture, flowers, and symbolic elements, I create works that feel both intimate and otherworldly. My work is also driven by a desire to provoke conversation and inspire social change through emotional conn

I find inspiration in the world around me—both its beauty and its injustices. The erosion of women’s rights and the ongoing struggles faced by the LGBTQIA+ community deeply influence my work and fuel my desire to create art that sparks conversation and social change. I am also profoundly inspired by my daughter, Star, whose memory lives through my paintings. Creating her image is a way of immortalising her spirit, love, and presence within my world.

If awarded the $25,000, I would invest in expanding my artistic practice through professional development, materials, and public presentation. The funding would support art supplies, the creation of new large-scale works and sculptures, and contribute to a future solo exhibition. It would also allow me to undertake sculpture studies at the Florence Academy of Art, helping me further develop my technical skills and bring new depth and dimension to my work.