Marilyn M.

Marilyn M.

pastel on paper / pastel sur papier

18" x 24"

property of / propriété de :

J. Faria

Sap collecting / Collection de sève à St-Ambroise de Kildare

Sap collecting / Collection de sève à St-Ambroise de Kildare

oil on canvas / huile sur toile

10" x 12"

$ 250. can.

Artist Statement

My artwork looks at the female body, mind and sense of empowerment. I enjoy creating erotic art and this in turn allows me to comment on social, political, cultural and sexist ways women and all females are perceived. I attempt to speak on the violence done to women as well as the beauty of femininity. My work tried to reproduce familiar concepts of the nude and the female erotic while inserting new elements such as political and anti oppression narratives, commentaries and symbology.

I create my erotic art from the inside out, as a woman born with a biological condition called transsexuality, i have had to come into my own as a female through much hardships. My path towards re-claiming my femininity and sense of womanhood was a struggle, and emotional pain, a constant reminder of society’s misogynistic and sexist attitude towards women in general and specifically towards females such as i. I think that my life experiences have given me a unique perspective, one that i try to share with all. I am passionate on many issues but i am generally even more vocal when it comes to women and the treatment they are sadly often subjected to because of abusive and oppressive stereotypes and prejudices born of patriarchy.

For the past three years, my art has involved the creation of a celebration of females in all their multifaceted splendor and beauty. I have put over a year in painting and drawing a series of pieces just about vaginas, because i felt they deserved celebrating and respect and honor. I have had a few shows in which my vagina paintings were showcased. Of course, i was influenced by plays, books, friends and especially from the fact that i had to have corrective surgery in order to finally have my own vagina. I had to work a lot and go through so many hurdles and barriers to finally be in a position to have my body aligned with my brain to be whole. It is probably clear by now that i am a feminist and that i do what i can to empower everything female.

I am also a queer woman, known for my penchant for the female erotic for which i give no apology, i simply love females. I think that speaking out through my art is what i should be doing. I am influenced by all the great women of the past and present, be they known by all or admired and known only to me.

I draw and paint in a realistic style and my training as an artist consists of five years in a private art school in Montreal, Canada, otherwise i am self taught. It is important to me that i broach topics deemed taboo or not for polite company as i take comfort and satisfaction from all the artists of the past who created erotic art. I have had paintings in various Erotic Art Shows and Events, in Canada as well as in the USA. Many will note that my paintings are somewhat reminiscent of the old masters, this is because i have always had a profound love of their work.

My art has won awards and has found homes in many private collections. I live in the Lanaudière region of Quebec, surrounded by beautiful mountains and lakes, my two cats Violet and Corky and the love of my life.

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