ARTIST STATEMENT
These artworks are centered on a woman in her twenties, navigating the quiet but profound battles of a changing body, mental unrest, and emotional fatigue. As her physical and psychological realities shift, she turns to the internet and substances—not out of indulgence, but as survival mechanisms. The endless scroll becomes both balm and poison, numbing pain while deepening detachment. It’s a digital refuge that offers distraction, validation, and escape, but easily slips into compulsion and self-erasure. At its core, this work is about political conflict—the systemic neglect of women’s health, both physical and mental. At a time like this where women’s bodies are politicized, pathologized, and often misunderstood, genuine care is hard to find. It’s stereotyped how a women’s body is seen as a “temple” but if the body is changed unnaturally it’s seen as a sin. The result is isolation—a deeply political outcome disguised as a personal failure. The internet mimics this cycle: it promises connection but often delivers distortion. It becomes a coping mechanism for those failed by healthcare systems, by capitalism, by the expectation to remain beautiful, productive, and composed amid chaos. This piece reflects the dissonance between inner struggle and outward silence. It asks viewers to consider how resistance can take the form of simply being, feeling, and refusing to disappear—even when the world is more comfortable looking away.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Lucy Aragon is a 23-year-old artist from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a recent graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her journey in the arts began as early as she can remember, and her passion has only deepened over the years. Before attending SAIC, Lucy participated in college-level programs at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, where she further developed her creative voice and technical skills. Her work reflects a lifelong engagement with visual expression, shaped by both academic study and personal exploration.
© Lucy Aragon