Scarlett Ford

my mom’s nail varnish (2023)
nail varnish on paper
30 x 30 cm
$100

ARTIST STATEMENT

This work is exploring using nail varnish as a painting medium. Semiotically, nail varnish has associations with femininity. Therefore as a feminist artist I felt it would be more impactful using this as a medium to paint instead of using oil paint. The colour palette is inspired by shades of flesh and blood, as my artistic practice currently is quite inspired by the body. It’s an abstract piece, exploring the makes the nail varnish brushes can make. This artwork is also sustainable as it’s using old nail varnish that would have otherwise been thrown away, and it’s been made on handmade paper.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Scarlett Ford examines contemporary issues such as women’s role in art history, reparative histories and the female body with a social critique. Through her work she tries to raise awareness of these issues and use the power of art to help with them. Her artwork covers a range of interdisciplinary forms (punch needle tufting, cyanotypes, video, film photography). Scarlett also has a podcast called Feel Free Creatively where she discusses her creative practice, and she reviews contemporary exhibitions. Her work has been exhibited and sold nationally and internationally in cities such as New York City and Chicago. She has worked with multiple creative organisations such as the Exposure Festival in Alberta, Canada, the Noorderlicht Photography Festival, the British Art Show and Eastside Projects, Digbeth. She has also been gifted bursaries by the arts organisations Multistory and Arts Connect. She has just graduated with a First Class degree in Fine Art from the Wolverhampton School of Art, and she is currently a Front of House volunteer at the Wolverhampton Art Gallery.

artist’s website

instagram

© Scarlett Ford