The message behind the piece

This collection of works was made with the intention to dismantle Western beauty standards that objectify us by appreciating the functionality of the body. It's about continually learning to accept the body as it is, with all its "imperfections," and respect it for its inherent, intrinsic beauty. All the pieces in this collection are an outline with a Micron pen, then shaded with colored pencil, on Bristol paper. Each work is inspired by a specific experience I have had in the process of learning to love my body as it is, and view my body with a deep appreciation. I want to share how body dysmorphia has affected me, because I have felt so seen and understood when viewing work from other artists who create from their most candid and honest selves.

Artwork scanned on an Epson v600 and preserved at a high quality of 800 DPI.

I am Grounded (2025)

This piece reflects the empowerment found in eating disorder recovery. It speaks to the freedom of feeling safe in one's body and safe to eat foods that bring physical and mental satisfaction — grounded in self-knowledge and in knowing what it takes to feel whole again.

Bigger Than Me (2023)

This work explores how stepping back from societal beauty standards has opened space to appreciate the fullness of life — the changing colors of autumn leaves, flowers blooming in spring. Choosing to direct attention toward the beauty of nature becomes a way of extending that same appreciation inward.

I'll Care About Other Things (2024)

This piece considers how time spent judging the body leaves little room for life's simple pleasures: savoring a meal, laughing with a loved one, serving as a resting place for a cat, or simply letting tired feet be still.

I Remember Her (2023)

Inspired by Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole, MS, RDN, and Elyse Resch, MS, RDN, this drawing captures a mindset shift — relearning that eating is a necessary and enjoyable part of daily life, after years of viewing it through fear and rigid rules. It reconnects with a childhood memory of eating with simple, unguarded satisfaction.

A Body in a Room (2023)

This piece reflects an evolving understanding of the body as a scientifically fascinating, cellularly intricate, and fundamentally neutral entity — its folds, its smoothness, its softness or firmness rendered simply as what they are: composing a body in a room.

I Respect (2022)

Focused on the stomach — a part of the body often scrutinized for not being small enough — this piece works toward releasing frustration in favor of appreciation. The gears depicted beneath the skin represent the stomach's quiet, constant functionality.

I Have Resilience (2022)

This piece frames scars as markers of value, akin to geodes — evidence of what has been overcome rather than something to conceal. The scars depicted belong to the artist and her family members, honoring shared strength across generations. Recovery from an eating disorder is its own form of healing from emotional scarring.

I Am Free (2024)

This piece captures the inspiration found in movement — the connection between mental focus and physical strength and flexibility, and the process of working through discomfort to move with greater ease and freedom.

Playground (2024)

Created as the cover art for "Playground" by musician Sylvia Lambley, this piece was made in collaboration with Sylvia to reflect the freedom and joy found in accepting and respecting the body for its intrinsic beauty and function.

Meta Emotions (2024)

This piece portrays the compounded emotional weight of struggling with an eating disorder — the frustration and sadness tied to food and body image, followed by the shame of feeling that way at all. It underscores that an eating disorder is not defined by body size, but is a serious mental health condition.