Modern Olympia calls into question the traditional painting subject of Olympia. Olympia is also known as Aphrodite, or Venus, the goddess of Love. In a historical context, this subject is typically displayed nude in a passive/reclining pose that is typical renditioning under the objective male gaze. After seeing these images all of my life I wondered what Olympia would look like today. I could not imagine her lounging around or an object of male sexual desire. Rather I imagined her as a dominating force, a beacon of her own sexuality. I imagined her, rather than enticing to men, as intimidating.

Through this series I am asking questions surrounding female empowerment, sexuality, and autonomy. I hope to cause a level of discomfort in order to spark important discussions.

Work is available for purchase. For inquiries visit the contact artist here.