Invisible Barriers

Pastel drawing on sanded paper / SOLD

Artwork Size: 16 × 18 inches / Frame Size: 24 ¾ x 27 inches

“As I press my face against the invisible barriers that come with womanhood, I look out at the life the best of me can’t seem to reach - to overcome, feels like a hopeless pursuit. I’m caught by something I cannot understand, trapped by a legacy that’s been with my family for generations.

This window frame sits in an old family cabin. The window bars are worn metal – full of rust and razor-sharp edges - reminiscent of a jail cell. And yet, the erosion of time offers a beautiful patina and presents the comfort of familiarity. It’s an interesting and complex juxtaposition – offering both a safety and a prison. 

The comfort of ‘known’ calls to me. But still, I long to let go of the way things have always been and embrace my own mistakes - to walk away from this barrier altogether, to stop pushing against a force stronger than I understand, to forge an entirely new path.

Unlike most of my work, I developed this drawing in color because some narratives are not so black-and-white."

-Chels