ARTIST STATEMENT
I strive to explore the beauty that exists within the mundane and the unexpected, whether that is objects, people, or behaviors. My painting “Shit Your Cake and Eat it Too” is a response to the external and internal expectations for women to fit into a specific box. While women are conditioned to believe that their beauty is defined by certain characteristics and behaviors, such as “being thin” and “behaving like a lady”, this piece works to disassemble those notions. I found an interest in the idea of a domestic bathroom being a safe space for people to be the truest form of themselves, despite the expectations of the outside world. Instead of women being reduced to an object for consumption to be served to society, let us explore what being a woman means by bringing our organic interpretations to the table.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Growing up in a suburb of Philadelphia, McLaughlin grew up displaying a strong interest in many forms of artmaking. Her interest in nature and the human experience combined with her creative inclination, revealing itself in her art. Presently, McLaughlin is a Kutztown University graduate earning a B.F.A., with a concentration in painting. Her work has been shown in multiple Kutztown University galleries and can also be found in the 2020 and 2021 editions of Kutztown’s Essence Art and Literary Magazine.
© Alison McLaughlin