There are moments when exhaustion clings to the body like a second skin. Yet, for women—especially mothers—their devotion often eclipses fatigue. The Costume Stays On is my meditation on this quiet heroism: the way a mother, still in her work clothes, chooses tenderness before rest, care before comfort.
The painting borrows the metaphor of the clown—an emblem of performance, of masks worn for the world. But here, the costume is not for spectacle; it is a symbol of endurance. The mother’s attire becomes her armor, her declaration that even when weary, she will not shed her role as nurturer.
This work is deeply personal. It is inspired by my late mother, Vilma, whose strength shaped me, and by my twin siblings, whose presence magnified the sacrifices she made daily. Their story is stitched into the canvas, a testament to the resilience of women who carry both the weight of labor and the grace of care.
The Costume Stays On was honored with the Curator’s Choice Award at my last exhibit, All About Her, held at 1159 Creative Space. Visitors can explore more about this exhibition through the Exhibition tab on my website.
This painting is not about glamour or perfection. It is about persistence, about the unspoken sacrifices hidden in ordinary gestures. It is my tribute to women who, despite exhaustion, still cradle, feed, and soothe. A portrait of love disguised as routine, of strength revealed in the everyday
