Jenna Beasley Collective Birth

Jenna Beasley

Collective Birth

Oil on canvas

Artist Statement

This piece is a self-portrait inspired by the first gift I was ever given: a stuffed panda bear given to me by my father on the day I was born. Since then, I have received a toy panda every year from my parents, all of which are seen in the

painting. The work comments on the childishness of excess and displays my fondness for indulging in personal nostalgia. I stayed up all night painting it while listening to a public radio podcast about science.