you do not have to be good, 2024, is a 9 in. x 12 in. oil on canvas. Inspired by conflicting ideas of self-worth, Avnet portrays herself in an eerie self-portrait, wearing a devil mask and angel wings. Themes of morality, shame, and performance are key sources of creativity within her practice. The figure’s downward gaze and wrapped arms convey vulnerability, as if she is shielding herself from judgment—whether from herself or others—while remaining uncertain of her character. The background is subliminal, interrupted only by a gold streak on the left, which adds an almost divine, elusive touch, hinting at a sense of grace within struggle. The figure appears trapped in space, intensifying the feeling of loneliness. The feeling of performance is elevated by the “costume” accessories, a mask that can be taken off and wings that have a visible strap on the right arm. Avnet adds this layer of production to blur lines between reality and delusion.
The title, you do not have to be good, references Mary Oliver’s poem “Wild Geese,” in which Oliver leaves the reader with a comforting sense of hope. Avnet uses this as a contrast to the feelings of shame and regret within the painting, suggesting that self-acceptance can coexist with self-doubt.
