mother, may i?

Starting bid $1,400

Title: MOTHER, MAY I?
Medium: Acrylic Leather Paint on Oversized Blazer (Cotton-Poly Blend), with matching bralette
Dimensions: Blazer: Women’s Size 6, Bralette Women’s Size 6 (please see size chart below for detailed measurements)
Year: 2025
Original & One-of-a-Kind

MOTHER, MAY I? is a hand-painted blazer and matching bralette painted with symbolic imagery of the Virgin Mary. Devotional, yes, but also glamorized, surreal, and deeply feminine. Across the garment, traditional icons are reimagined through a more complicated lens: a flaming heart pierced with a dagger blooms with soft flowers on one shoulder, while another burns beneath a crown of thorns. A golden blade gleams on one sleeve, its twin wrapped in rosary beads. The front lapel is encircled with thorns, while two doves carry a string of beads between their beaks. Mary’s hands appear in prayer, palms pressed and manicured, framed like a saint’s and styled like a starlet’s.

On the back, a large painted portrait of the Virgin commands the scene. Cloaked and crowned, her face is tearful, yet diamonds sparkle on her ears and polished nails glisten beneath a heart afire. The painting style is soft and layered, with a dreamlike texture that evokes the feeling of something half-remembered or half-prayed.

This is religious imagery, but not as you know it. It is reverent, but also carnal; grieving, but also styled. Mary is not rendered as a passive figure of obedience, but as a potent and complicated force. Holy, haunted, and human.

MOTHER, MAY I? continues my fascination with contradiction: sacred meets profane, beauty holds grief, and obedience brushes up against defiance. The piece challenges viewers to reconsider what we sanctify, who we sanctify, and why. It belongs to a body of work that invites curiosity and refuses simplicity. Where clothing becomes altar, and femininity is not a virtue to uphold but a script to disrupt and make our own.

Start Date: [e.g., April 10, 2025 at 12:00 PM CST]
End Date: [e.g., April 17, 2025 at 12:00 PM CST]
Closure time may be extended to accommodate last-minute bidders.
Starting Bid: $1,400

Bid Increments:
All bids must increase by at least $100 USD.
Bids placed below the minimum increment will not be accepted.
Please be thoughtful when placing your bid. Each bid is a binding agreement to purchase the artwork if you are the winning bidder.
Shipping & Handling: Packaging & Delivery:
This piece will arrive neatly folded and protected with acid-free tissue, then wrapped in a protective sleeve and shipped in a durable box. All original artworks are tracked and insured. Please allow 5–7 business days for domestic shipping. International shipping times may vary depending on customs.
Shipping is not included in the final bid price. A separate invoice will be sent after the auction to cover packaging and insured shipping based on your location. Local pickup (in Nashville) is available upon request.
- Payment: Winning bidders will receive an email confirmation and invoice. Payment is due within 48 hours of auction close.
- Authentication: Each piece comes signed, with a certificate of authenticity.
For inquiries about fit, styling, or symbolism, I welcome your messages. I’d love to hear how this piece speaks to you.
Garment Care
To preserve the integrity and longevity of your custom-painted piece, please follow these care instructions carefully:
Daily Maintenance:
- Spot clean only when necessary using a clean, damp cloth and mild detergent.
- Use a soft garment brush to gently remove lint and debris.
- To freshen and kill bacteria, use a handheld steamer—never apply direct heat to painted areas.
- Do NOT dry clean.
Washing Instructions (Only When Absolutely Necessary):
1. Turn the jacket inside out.
2. Fold the sleeves inward toward the center, then fold the jacket in half so the sleeves are enclosed.
3. From the top or bottom of the folded jacket, roll tightly into a tube shape.
4. Secure the roll with a safety pin, being careful not to pierce painted areas.
5. Place the rolled jacket into a mesh garment bag and repeat the rolling + pinning process for the bag itself.
6. Wash on a gentle cycle with COLD water using a mild detergent.
7. Do not machine dry. Hang to air dry, away from direct sunlight.
8. Steam to release wrinkles (avoid painted surfaces).