Kristin O'Connor "Girlfriend"

Kristin O’Connor is a painter whose work explores the intersection of feminism and sexuality. Drawing inspiration from her upbringing in the Southern Evangelical church, her work incorporates elements of biblical symbolism to challenge narratives that demonize sex and pleasure. A reflection of her journey toward freedom from shame and guilt, her work invites the viewer to grapple with how patriarchal norms shape our experiences of pleasure, desire, and intimacy. Ultimately, her work is a celebration of the power and resilience of women in the face of oppressive cultural norms and expectations.

She graduated with a BFA in Painting from the University of Tampa in 2013 and received her MFA from the New York Academy of Art in 2015. She lives and works in Brooklyn.

“My work is directly inspired by my upbringing in the Southern Evangelical church and my journey away from those beliefs. In this heavily patriarchal tradition, women and young girls are burdened with the impossible task of regulating men’s and boy’s attention to and desire for them. From a young age, I learned that sex and desire were taboo, and only for heterosexual married couples. Women answered to their husbands and certainly possessed no agency, sexual or otherwise. American politics have long grappled with the tension between these patriarchal values and more progressive ideals. My work delves into feminine sexuality and can serve to challenge these entrenched power structures and advocate for the autonomy and liberation of women. This is particularly relevant in the face of attempts to further restrict women’s access to healthcare, as witnessed in debates around abortion rights and reproductive justice. As we witness Christian nationalist beliefs migrate into legislation across the country, my work about and for women becomes an indispensable medium for expressing, questioning, and reshaping the narratives surrounding women's experiences and rights.” - Kristin O’Connor