Senior Thesis- A Pursuit of Self

This body of work is from my 2021 thesis where I tackle ideas surrounding the self and identity. “Who am I?” is a question that we all ask ourselves at some point in our lives. I often found myself grappling with a lack of a sense of self and loss of identity. I struggled to recognize images and reflections of myself. To the same effect, I felt many egos will always exist inside of me, coexisting peacefully, but also blurring the lines of which of them is my truest self. More often than not, I did not feel connected to myself. The goal of this work was to find myself and feel more connected to the body I have been given. I have communicated the complicated nature of one’s relationship with themself. I explored the anxiety of existence. I have called it a pursuit of self. All the pieces in body of work are self-portraits. Every piece is created with acrylic paint and oil pastel on multimedia paper, each varying in size. Frequently, there are multiple images of myself, often using images of past portraits within the backgrounds. Color is an important part of this thesis. I use bright and high-contrast colors throughout my thesis as a means of exploration and playfulness. The goals I have set to achieve in this body of work will be a constant for the rest of my career.