'Muted Dialogues' is a deeply personal exploration of the intricate web of emotions and silenced voices that surround the trauma of sexual assault. In this acrylic and cold wax on canvas, interwoven with found objects, I sought to capture the multifaceted emotional journey that survivors endure—a complex tapestry of fear, shame, anger, and the loss of control over one's narrative. This painting was conceived during the tumultuous Kavanaugh hearing, and the coverage and opinions around it, a moment that starkly illustrated how society often stifles the voices of survivors.

For me, this work goes beyond art; it is a cathartic expression of the grief and rage I felt when my own first cousin, a survivor, experienced the tragedy of rape and later took her life, burdened by the victim-blaming and legal complications that amplified her suffering. 'Muted Dialogues' is a call to confront the systems and attitudes that perpetuate silence, igniting a dialogue to empower survivors and challenge the norms that perpetuate their pain. It is a tribute to my cousin's memory and a plea for a more compassionate and just world.