Don’t
Be a
Tom

I have been doodling since I can remember, whether it be all over my high school notebooks or old sketchbooks long forgotten in my parent’s basement— to now, sketching in between subway stops. These drawings are usually based on personal stories, current events, and trends — often in an exaggerated, humorous way.

Recently, I have wanted to escape into my own world, one I bring to life with pen and paper. I live in a world where women have red juicy lips that take up half of their faces, their lashes do the same. They radiate fabulosity but do not shy away from the grotesque or eerie situations they might find themselves in. The women are all parts of me, or based on women I love.

Navigating my experience as a female has been vital to my artistic practice, which I believe can be described as an artist’s core purpose or drive to create. The perplexities and casualness of misogyny have rattled my brain since I was a young girl, begging to come out of me in one shape or another.

Micro-misogyny, which is just sexism lightly dressed up, is so internalized that it is left unacknowledged in most situations. While it may not be violent or outwardly harmful, these comments are usually poorly veiled jokes that undermine the targeted woman’s opinions or thoughts.

Don’t Be a Tom is a cheeky response to sexism regarding height. Being tall, or just being above average height for a woman, seems to be a point of contention for some men. Whether they feel emasculated or are genuinely confused as to why their version of 5’9 doesn’t add up to mine, I aim to highlight everyday misogyny in my art in the hope of generating more conversations.

Sexism in art, more specifically the Art World, is not something new. Women have been undervalued and underrepresented by art institutions since the beginning of art salons in the 1700s. Even though progress has been made, the problem is still ever-present. Making art that directly shows misogynistic tendencies is a therapeutic outlet for me.

Casual Misogyny

Don’t Be a Tom (2025) is an 11 in. x 14 in. mixed media drawing on paper. I fear the interaction between The Blonde and Tom is one ALL tall girls find themselves in… usually involuntarily. The text reflects conversations I’ve had countless times. I have had men crash out after forcing me to go back to back with them. I’ve learned to love my height, even wishing I was taller now!

In my work, I often combine softer, romantic elements of a piece with an eerie, or dark twist. I don’t want to have one without the other, the duality of it reminds me that two truths are possible. I’ve always struggled with understanding that multiple things can be true about oneself, but my attraction to including beauty with the grotesque helps me see that. In Don’t Be a Tom, we find ourselves in a strange waiting area, a woman with a black bob checks her compact mirror before sashaying down the hallway to meet her fate. The playfulness of the piano, adorned with little hearts has a cobweb below it, a shadow of a devilish figure to the left of it. The two central characters are complete foils of one another, the Blonde, sporting a cheetah print dress and a fresh blow out, carefully caresses Tom’s head while his shirt has food stains and is untucked. Tom spits out whatever he is thinking, while the Blonde takes a moment to ponder what her response will be.

My stylistic inspiration for Don’t Be a Tom comes from old Disney cartoons from the 1940s and 50s— often referred to as UPA style. It is characterized by flat, graphic shapes, with icons rather than realistic figures. I’m also drawn to pin-up art, influenced by depictions of Jessica Rabbit and Holli Would. Instead of over-sexualized femme fatales, I depict women with justified anger — characters whose frustrations the viewer can understand.

Through my art, I aim to explore the complex realities of femininity—its beauty, rage, and humor. I hope my characters offer a mirror for viewers to see themselves or the women they know in a new light.

FEATURED ARTWORK