Just Put on A Little Lipstick

This piece explores the silencing of women, where we’re often encouraged to prioritize appearance over expression. At the center is a real lipstick print—pressed directly onto the paper—serving as both a literal and symbolic imprint of femininity. The mouth is sewn shut with delicate gold thread, a recurring motif in my work that represents the tension between beauty and pain, strength and suppression. Created using watercolor, graphite, and hand-stitched gold thread, this piece challenges the viewer to consider the cost of silence and the resilience it takes to endure it.