In my oil paintings, I explore the intricate relationship between women and flowers, challenging traditional narratives and portraying the flower as a symbol of liberation. I examine how women have often been confined to having their worth evaluated on their beauty and fertility, acknowledging their historical objectification. My work investigates feminist symbolism, and it echoes Georgia O’Keeffe’s exploration of flowers and female anatomy, inviting viewers to confront the details of unfurling petals and reproductive systems. I see the flower as both metaphor for women, but also as a mask. The flower is the outer mask that women wear to thrive and survive in a society not designed for them. Building on the 17th and 18th-century tradition of botanical illustration by women – one of the first ways women accessed the sciences – I draw inspiration from Maria Sibylla Merian and Elizabeth Blackwell. This shift from abstract landscapes to figurative work reflects my deliberate choice to authentically express evolving perspectives on women and femininity.
Maria Lee-Warren
