I Only Want A Proper House

Abby French

She/her/hers

Missoula, US

Ink, Oil, Pastel, Graphite, Acrylic on Paper and Cardboard

24" x 30"

Abby French’s pieces are often drawings done with various medias collaged onto acrylic paintings, because She is drawn to the visual depth unique to mixed media. Portraits with narrative are important to her, specifically those related to love because she is fascinated by the endurance of human relationships. She wishes to further explore her identity as a woman with a chronic illness, focusing heavily on the chronic pain involved with Fibromyalgia, and how this has affected her idea of youth and reaching adulthood. Parts of her pieces are left slightly unfinished, while other parts are highly rendered. This juxtaposition is paired with a conversation between innocence and maturity in subject matter. When asked about the construction of her personal reality, she wrote, “My reality is greatly influenced by my concept of normalcy. I look to expectations of humanity, some stereotypes, and commonalities among people to inform myself identity. When I no longer fit my stereotypical idea of a healthy young adult, my reality seemed to change.” -Abby French