Title Sarah: Degree show piece 1 of 9
Princess. Matriarch. Mother.
In my artistic practice, I explore the hidden stories of my family’s heritage including our genetics, focusing on the large number of women and their individual characteristics, and the tradition of passing down female names such as Sarah.
My work reflects on the impact of genetic testing, which began with examining our own results and discovering complications. Through this exploration, I have come to understand the significance of shared names and matriarchal roles in my family. The collection I present features minimalistic yet conceptual portraits in the form of necklaces and lariats. Each piece is an intimate portrayal of an individual.
These creations represent my connection to my home, heritage, and Catholic faith that remains subtly in my family. I incorporate personal artefacts from each individual, including locks of hair, to create mementoes. Through my work, I aim to construct a narrative that challenges observers to question their connection to the subject matter. I do this by juxtaposing precious and non-precious materials and inviting reflection on the legacies we carry and how they shape our identity. My ambition is to not only to bridge visibility with privacy but to invite reflection on what it means to carry a legacy of a family and share this connection to the name Sarah.

Using AI to respond to my own source material

My work contains a blend of traditional and digital artistry, utilizing hand-drawn elements, Photoshop, and AI-generated imagery to create unique designs that challenge conventional boundaries. By integrating AI with personal studio work, I have developed designs that are then refined through further digital manipulation or direct drawing, tailoring each piece to specific aesthetic or functional criteria, such as client feedback or practical considerations.

The pieces still have further development needed in- terms of  if they were to be physically created but I have enjoyed the freedom of digital work to explore things that may not be possible to practically make.

The collection not only showcases creative adaptability but also serves a deeper purpose by visually interpreting complex themes like women’s reproductive health and hidden illnesses, with a particular emphasis on endometriosis. This approach aims to provoke thought and evoke empathy by transforming often unseen pain into visceral, sometimes unsettling visual expressions. The pieces are designed to challenge viewers, making the invisible ailments visible, providing a greater understanding and awareness of these significant but often overlooked health issues. Through this work, I wish to push the boundaries of artistic expression and its potential to influence societal perceptions of health and pain.

My portfolio has a combination of hand drawn, photoshop and AI responses, to create designs. I have worked by feeding an AI my own studio work, physical and digital, and asking for renders and adaptations onto the body.

I take these generated images and draw over or edit on photoshop to finalise my designs how I want. It is limited to one particular view of the piece, but this is where I would then work with my idea (or client feed back) on paper to practically solve logistical issues.

My pieces explore possible further outcomes of existing work and themes. I have been researching and centering on women’s reproductive health, with a particular focus of endometriosis. This research has also included a more general exploration into hidden illness or injury, creating work that is visibly grotesque and uncomfortable to view in order to explain hidden pain.