Dee Mejia

Am I Not Woman Enough For You?, mixed media, acrylic, soft pastel on canvas, 20” x 24”, 2022

Dee Mejia - Death of a Perfectionist

• April 19 - 28, 2022
• Reception and Artist Talk Tuesday, April 19, at 6 pm

Artist Statement

A fruitful human experience is fueled by social constructs. These social constructs define our perceptions of beauty, expectations, and reality. Through the depiction of the disfigured nude, self-portraiture, eyes, and archways I am to elucidate the vast array of emotions associated with these unrealistic and unobtainable expectations. The dismembered body in my work reflects societal brutalization and tormented around the body. The naked figure is representative of the true nature of what lies beneath these set of rules - a human being. Through self-portraiture, I aim to respond directly to societal constructs, exploring opportunities lost or found based on others’ perceptions of me. My work explores the psychological impact of beauty standards and expectations and the negative perceptions I have developed as a result.

Through the use of collage, I am to mirror the overwhelming thought process that occurs when introduced to these restrictions. I juxtapose various motifs to emphasize the strain between certain expectations and responsibilities. This body of work is rendered through acrylic paint, chalk pastels, and colored pencils. The transparency and fluidity of acrylic paint enables forms to become amorphous, thus allowing for a more intuitive process. I develop forms as they emerge and thus creating meaning. I use drawing tools to form an expressive and aggressive line, evoking emotions of anger, frustration, or confusion, while my use of chromatic colors expresses joyous emotions. Working with pastels allows for me to be expressive and unpredictable, paving the way for me to combat the perfectionism and expectations I place upon myself and my work.