Artwork photographed by Claire Connolly. All scenes photographed by Kathleen Connolly.

The Levy and Daniel Families Art Gallery presented Connolly’s foray into community-rooted figurative work. Curious about how the feminine element might authentically influence our visual culture and daily lives, she put out a call for femme-identifying people to nominate themselves or family members for portraiture. Whether through discussion with individuals or family groups, Connolly agreed with each of seven portraitees to create gouache paintings, and t-shirt designs featuring a personal message. This act of depicting specific instances of the feminine in her community, allowed her to investigate its meaning in various contexts: fine art, mass market iconography, private domesticity, and public spaces.