Growth Springs From Within 

Our greatest mistake as a society is prioritising book learning over independent thinking. From a young age our minds are strained with formal instruction, standardized tests and rigorous routine – but through all of this, we fail to actually cultivate our minds. 

In this series, I move away from pure portraiture and introduce cacti as landscape elements to the scene. Cacti symbolize endurance, growing tall and strong even in the harshest desert landscapes. They often remind me to stay present even during difficult times. Rainbows, like in my Continuation series, invoke perseverance through change and upheaval. 

Today, many women are still at a disadvantage – at work, in school, and sometimes even at home. Like the mighty cactus, the women in my paintings have taken charge of their personal growth. Cultivating the mind is no small feat, these women have taken this incredible journey into their own hands.