This 16x20" mixed-media painting, created in 2024, combines acrylic on canvas with delicate hand embroidery, adding depth and texture to the artwork.

"Mariam" explores the balance between exposure and concealment, using embroidery as a veil to censor parts of the nude figure. By stitching over the body, I question what should be seen and what is meant to be hidden. The fusion of acrylic paint and embroidery blurs boundaries between fine art and textile traditions. The stitched threads, symbols of care and repair, instead act as barriers—protecting and restricting. The warm reds and pinks evoke sensuality, while the embroidery disrupts the gaze, challenging the viewer’s role in looking. Through Mariam, I reflect on how nudity is perceived, controlled, and altered across cultures. The piece invites contemplation on the tension between self-expression and modesty.