Show Your Shadow:
self portraits
This is the second virtual exhibit I am hosting, giving artists and anyone who makes art a chance to show another kind of self-portrait: their shadow. In the call for art, I asked, “What would your shadow self-portrait look like?” Artists were allowed to interpret the call as literally or as symbolically as they were comfortable sharing in any medium. The works could range from anonymous silhouettes snapped on your phone to symbolic works revealing another side of the self. In my own work, I decided to explore a little of both, ultimately settling on a subconscious self-portrait showing my Jungian “shadow self” through painting. I hope that this exploration inspires you to see something as commonplace as your shadow in new and intriguing ways.
I love every single shadow that was sent to me and am thankful to all of the participants of this virtual exhibit for sharing their unique work. I encourage you to check out all the participating artists, they’re all such talented folks! Their information is listed beneath each image, including their socials. There are so many types of artists here: a few photographers and illustrators, a print maker, a fiber artist, muralists, an installation/video artist, an artist/doctor, a couple musicians and a calligrapher/ceramicist, to name a few. Please reach out to the artists directly if you are interested in purchasing any of these works or I can put you in touch with them.
The works are posted in the order they were received and copyright the artists as listed below each image.
Devina Dhawan “Superwoman” @devi.calligraphy and @devi.labs (Instagram)
Timothy Murphy “Tall man walking” @timmyroyboy (Instagram)
I’m an asphalt scientist who picked up photography during the ‘quiet time’. (It that shall not be named.)
For this picture, I just parked my car at the Midway Airport lot, turned the corner, and thought, ‘wow, I’m taller than I remember.’
Amanda Murphyao “Maid of Water” @murphyao.ink (Instagram)
I couldn't very well tell my dad (Timothy Murphy, above) to participate in an exhibit and then not submit something myself! Also, anyone who can should go to the forest preserves around Chicago because they are great.
Amanda Star “Teacher Shadow” @astarandson (Instagram)
#TeacherLife - I am an artist who sculpts young minds. Here is my shadow.
Marieta Rabieta “#sombra” @marietarabieta (Instagram)
“One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making darkness conscious” –C.G. Jung
Pamela Maurer “5:55PM, Humboldt Park, Chicago” @babymoney4eva (Instagram)
Elana Tenner "Reaching" @elanatennerartist (Instagram)
This piece focuses on pausing in the middle of an action and noticing one's shadow and reflecting upon that.
Justin Kreuter “Borders At The Undiscovered” @KreuterMD (Instagram)
I am working on developing my creative voice, weekdays, 8-9pm central time. Pushing the pigments, I see the border at my shadow clearly. My inner self has multiple aspects and you can see my struggle to explore these inner forms. My time-based exploration is over for now. I would like to explore the power differentials of my inner forms further.
Yvette Meltzer “My Shadow on Water” @yvettemaxine (Instagram)
Meditating on water....Water, fluid, where I began.
My shadow on water
Water, a fundamental element, healing, life sustaining and destructive.
It's a matter of perspective.
Mia untitled @Fairy_Foot (Twitter)
Mia untitled @Fairy_Foot (Twitter)
Jennifer Flynn untitled @Jenny.c.flynn
Olivia Arrow Dhamee “scattered storms” @olivia.arrow.dhamee (Instagram)
This painting was an exploration of my shadow self both literally and symbolically, peeking into a part of my psyche. Inside my shadow’s head play the unrelenting lies of depression and anxiety, swirling around in the dark. The reflection of light through my glasses represents my resilience to see beyond my “messy mind” and past the negative inner dialogue, knowing it will pass, like a shadowy storm.
Julie Merilatt “Sister Imprinted” @julzreads (Instagram)
My life will always have a shadow because my sister is gone. https://wesavelives.bethematch.org/participant/7242
Holly Bonner “Super” @hollybonnerphotography (Instagram)
Holly Bonner “Super Mom” @hollybonnerphotography (Instagram)
Heather Gentile Collins “Artist on canvas” @heathergentilecollins (Instagram)
“ Artist on canvas” was taken as I was looking at my huge canvas trying to decide if I was going to paint it or not. I’m holding my little painting water and brushes and I thought I was taking a photo but it was a slowmo video.
“Plein Air Photo” @heathergentilecollins (Instagram)
Yesterday some Artist friends and I attempted playing air painting at Montrose Harbor. Both of my submissions are from that day.
“ Plein Air Photo “ featuring Olivia Dhamee, Jenny Flynn and Tammy Azzerello, and my shadow. This makes me so happy to see because we gathered our canvases and paints on a windy September day and just got out there. I sent the call out to some artsy friends and 4 joined us and we laughed and painted and the sun shines on us and it was magical.
Josh Harks “See Something Say Something” @harksgallery (Instagram)
To look at the conversation of the thoughts inside our heads. The shadow of things unsaid or purposefully discarded. All the inner workings of a message before its delivered. What is the filtering process that our thoughts are refined through and what are the causes that push us to speak.
Anne Heisler “Face Drag” @buttrbelle (Instagram)
Betsy Kirichenko “Internal Season”
Betsy Kirichenko is a multi-media hobby artist and nurse from Auburn, WA. She had been taking photos since she was 8. She enjoys looking for new perspectives and experimenting with the world around her. Her other arts include collage art, painting and drawing.
Paul Torgus “Getting Ready” @paultorgus (Instagram)
Raina Cowan “Me and my Shadow” @rainatherapist (Instagram)
Years ago when we were going through fertility challenges/recurrent pregnancy loss, I made a self portrait titled “Infertility’s Shadow” in which I was surrounded by a sickly green color (not pictured here). It was very much about being “green with envy” at other's fertility. This was an uncomfortable shadow part of myself, and was painful to experience and own. Fast forward 10 years to this call for art and this healing green leafy shadow image (original color photo more green). However, there is still a shadow self here too. The reality of being a working mom doesn’t allow much time for self. Even this art was rushed and garbled together due to parenting and work obligations, among other things. As an adoptive parent, I worry about how being adopted impacts my kid’s developing identity, and sometimes feel like I have to constantly prove my love by going the extra mile. Being a parent is frequently being pulled in different directions, and feeling guilty for taking time for self-care. And yet all parents do better when they have some time to just contemplate their shadow in nature.
Raina Cowan “Mirror Shadows” @rainatherapist (Instagram)
I traced a copy of my shadow photo and accidentally made mirror images, creating two shadows. Makes me think of mirror neurons or conversations with myself. I wanted to emphasize the lush verdant green of the original photo (see @rainatherapist) and the feeling I had of being one with nature. Born in spring, I am a better version of myself then. It is the season that I feel the most joy, new life, and possibility. I love being surrounded by green. It feels like a healing balm on the eyes and soul. I wanted to explore adding something to the shadows and glitter seemed fun. The center needed something and a tree just kind of grew there. Tree of life vibes or maybe a sapling. I plan on using this image in the dead of winter to remind myself of spring.
RaRaina Cowan “Shadow Box” @rainatherapist (Instagram)
A play on words, and an inquiry: can you contain a shadow? Do they exist outside of an ethereal realm? This piece seeks to begin to explore these questions.
Donovan Beeson untitled @dovbee
Donovan Beeson untitled @dovbee
Thank you for visiting this virtual exhibit, please come back for more seasonal calls for art.