TIFFENE LAROSE

"Consumer power - Sarah Grand"

Oil paint on canvas

32 x 24 inches

Sarah Grand is the author of New Woman Strategies 1894, a term referring to a radical independent woman. Due to political repression without voting rights, women found ways to influence politics. With the increasing traction of commercialism targeting women, their power as consumers was used to boycott stores for unethical practices. The chiaroscuro style used is from the Baroque period, which is significant to the development of radical feminist ideas from artists such as Artemisia Gentileschi.

"Voting Rights - Lucy Stone"

Oil paint on canvas

46 x 35 inches

This portrait of Lucy Stone memorialises her role in the suffragette movement. The reference photo by James Notman was edited to include a ballot box to symbolise Stone’s contributions to gender roles in society. Her frilled collar represents the aristocracy she built up to have influence over the upperclassmen.

"Equal pay - Karen Nussbaum"

Oil paint on canvas

32 x 24 inches

This portrait of Karen Nussbaum is referenced from the Toronto Star Archives. The typewriter, edited into the photo, symbolises her job as a secretary where inequal treatment inspired her to rally women to fight against gender inequality in the worplace and made it socially acceptable by avoiding controversial terms like ‘feminist’ or ‘movement’.

"Contraceptive rights - Marie Stopes"

Oil paint on canvas

46 x 35 inches

This is a portrait of Marie Stopes, referenced from a photo in the Financial Times. She was the founder of the first abortion clinic. The microscope in the image represents her knowledge in the sciences. She fought to normalize contraception by educating the public about the reproductive organs in simpler scientific language in her many books, seen in the bottom left.

"#Metoo - Alyssa Milano"

Oil paint on canvas

32 x 24 inches

This artwork depicts Alyssa Milano, one of the women starting the #MeToo movement, raising awareness for the sexual abuse in Hollywood. The reference photo from the “Sorry not sorry” campaign was manipulated to have a microphone to symbolise the empowerment in her speaking up. The dark vignette puts a focus on the lifelike portraiture, created by the high contrast lighting and chiarscuro style painting. The lace detail on Milano’s shirt symbolises her femininity as a powerful influential woman.

"Body Positivity - Jamie Zella"

Oil paint on canvas

46 x 35 inches

This portrait of Jamie Zella is sourced from her instagram. The modern feminist movement encourages the acceptance of all beauty and confidence to defy social norms. The confident sassy pose and side glance with a nonchalant expression displays her comfort in dressing in her undergarments. The contrast of the fashion in this piece in comparison to the other artworks highlights her confidence in standing out.

"Political Power - Ruth Bader Ginsburg"

Oil paint on canvas

32 x 24 inches

Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a symbol of female political power as the director of the Women’s Rights Project as well as being the second female supreme court judge. She is wearing her favourite lace jabot, which symbolises the femninine energy she brought to the Supreme Court. The life-like portrayal using the chiaroscuro painting style emphasises her stern gaze, reflecting her composed and powerful influence in politics.