Kat Edwards

Maternal Mortality

Gouache, colored pencil on paper attached to cradled wooden panel

27”x41”

2022

My work is an amalgamation of how news and legislative events make me feel. I convey the emotion that comes with the political and bring humanity to events that are removed or out of our control, merging these into figurative representations of the modern-day social climate and its effect on young adults - particularly women. Because my work follows current events, the subject matter and its subsequent emotive qualities reflect what I am feeling and how I choose to represent that state of mind. I examine the fear and anger that came along with the Dobbs decision and ultimate end of the protections of Roe v. Wade in the early summer of 2022. These paintings were made as a way to develop an understanding between my personal feelings on the matter as well as how it affects uterus-bearing people, from physical health to finances to privacy. Heads without bodies and spilled intestines are disturbing reminders that people are losing control over their bodies; I use gore to draw connections between uncomfortable ideas such as forced birth and a loss of bodily autonomy.