Seven Years Before

This painting reflects on protection, girlhood, and the quiet awareness passed between women. Growing up, my aunt was one of the few people who could remove me from my home life and place me in somewhere safer and more nurturing. She carried a deep understanding of how time changes the way girls are seen and how each year can take something with it. Though she could not know what would happen later, she remained attentive and protective, offering care when she could. The work holds gratitude for her vigilance and grief for the inevitability of loss.