Artist Statement: Centering the female image is the heart of Self Portrait with Repurposed Image. The prolonged stare of the artist engages the viewer while the poetry addresses histories of erasure across artistic disciplines. Here, the feminine reigns in the form of stereotypical imagery: cupcakes, pomegranates, a soft backdrop. The artist’s lilting voice is an abrasive invitation to examine how often the overtly feminine is left absent on the canvas, on the screen, and on the page.