Fuck Your Thoughts and Prayers

48×48 inches
acrylic, spray paint on canvas
2022

The woman abstractly depicted here represents a soldier, fighter and survivor. The palette of her lips is camouflage to signify that she’s cloaked in protective gear heading into battle. The praying hands and thought bubble earrings represent thoughts and prayers. Just as we don’t associate earrings with protection, but instead decoration, it’s just as useless to simply offer someone thoughts and prayers as if there is value in the gesture itself. If for example, this is a grieving mother, what is really given to help her heal? When titling this painting, I wanted the desperation to be apparent. I invite the viewer to imagine a woman who nine times out of ten would say, “forget your thoughts and prayers” being pushed to her wits end.