Big thanks to Chad for capturing this for us!
It’s been a while—because time flies—and I haven’t mentioned my fine art nudes here (or anywhere else, really for soooo long). So I wanted to drop my artist statement that I wrote to accompany the work I exhibited as part of the 2022 group show in Paris, Let’s Talk About SEXism. I was incredibly proud to be included in such a bold and necessary exhibition.
Artist Statement
How do we, as women, learn to truly cherish ourselves?
How do we gather the richness of each lived experience and raise it like a trophy—an offering in honour of our journey?
As the fight for bodily autonomy takes on new global urgency, how do we reclaim ownership of our bodies, dismantle the systems built to suppress us, and divert the male gaze—all while revelling in the beauty and power of our physical selves?
We are more resilient, more courageous than we’re ever told.
We move through the cycles of life with the strength of goddesses.
We are mothers, lovers, creators, adventurers, and activists.
We are fighters—constantly evolving, endlessly becoming.
To honour the divine feminine is to reject, outright, those who would diminish or control it.
In my work, I explore themes of consent, censorship, sexuality, body and gender shaming, and ageism. These issues—so often normalised—are not just subjects; they are threads woven through every image I create.
Strategically placed flowers carry layered meaning: symbols of resilience, rebirth, and growth. I use pure gold leaf and inks to adorn the bodies—bodies that society too often teaches women to hide or hate. This embellishment is both an act of reverence and defiance: a reminder that our bodies are worthy, powerful, and sacred.
—Rachel Calvo, August 2022
