JADE BARTLETT - EXPOSURE EMERGING PHOTOGRAPHERS SHOWCASE

Tickled Pink is a self-portrait in which I expose my insecurities through the representation of their concealment; my eyes are eclipsed beneath a brush stroke—thus, I conceal myself with art. The eyes themselves symbolize vulnerability, as they are often one’s most prominent identifying feature; by shrouding my own eyes, I hope to no longer look like myself, therefore severing the connection between my identity and my insecurities, which are derived from negative body image. This masquerade truly leaves me “tickled pink” as I elude the potential judgments I expect to receive based on my appearance.

BIOGRAPHY

At fifteen, I first began to forge a relationship with photography—one that has proven to be both passionate and artistically scintillating. As a self-taught photographer, I continuously strive to hone my skills. As I’ve explored this craft, I have discovered that I am most inspired by the following subjects: the detailed curvature of wild flowers; the golden palette of a sunset; the introspective contour of Grecian statues; and the cryptic craters of the moon—photographs of which I had the pleasure of showcasing at a Raw Artist Event in 2019. In regard to current projects, I am working towards composing a collection of photographs and poems that unearth the turmoil of mental illness. This particular project is an expression of my purpose as an artist: to create art that is vulnerable, honest, and unapologetically itself.