Wretched Blessed
Medium Description
This piece was predominantly made using acrylic paint ranging from fluid acrylic to heavy-body acrylic. A variety of techniques were used, including splattering, washes, and both wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry application. Gold leaf was applied to embellish aspects of the piece with significant thematic weight.Artist Description
This piece draws inspiration from both new-age spiritualism and more traditional Christian imagery to explore nuances of female reproductive health. The gold leaf embellishments serve as a nod to classical portraits of Madonna and Child. The starred halos around Wretched Blessed’s head reference the Empress tarot card as well as the biblical story of “The Woman and the Dragon” since both bear crowns of twelve stars. In Revelation, the Woman’s story details the birth of her son and subsequent pursuit by a red dragon intent on consuming both her and her child. The Empress tarot card is also associated with maternal influences, creativity, and new beginnings or ideas. When her card is drawn upright, it typically indicates abundance and stability in one or more aspects of the querent’s life.
The combined inspiration of these two entities offered the perfect opportunity to explore the interplay between female reproductive health and stigma. Simply deciding to depict a uterus in the hands of “Wretched Blessed” has the potential to make her a more polarizing piece than if it had been any other organ. This fact alone is representative of the attitudes many women face due to health concerns out of their control.
Approximately 10% of women worldwide between the ages of 15 and 49 deal with endometriosis and 10-13% of women deal with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), with 70% of said women affected remaining undiagnosed2. These conditions often come with a litany of fertility issues or, at the very least, riskier pregnancies and deliveries. While these challenges may not be as immediate a danger as a dragon, they can still cause significant distress to any hopeful mothers. By placing the uterus within the hands of Wretched Blessed, I hope to convey a feeling of giving back control and surety over one’s own body.
Wretched Blessed’s title comes from the duality inherent in both its inspirations. The Woman experiences being both “wretched” while pursued and “blessed” while protected; the Empress provides different but complementary messages depending on whether she is drawn upright or reversed. The idea being that being wretched or blessed is often one and the same.
1“Endometriosis” World Health Organization, October 15, 2025, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/endometriosis
2 “Polycycstic ovarian syndrome” World Health Organization, January 22, 2026, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/polycystic-ovary-syndrome