"Worth The Mess" by Zoë Simpson

About the Artwork

A nude woman contrasted against a dark background. She dutifully displays a messy and broken pomegranate closely to her chest. Her hands are stained and dripping in the dark red juices of the fruit, yet she is smiling. The image is cropped from just above her lips to just below her breast.

Color pencils were used over the acrylic paint to add additional texture, shading, and noise to the painting. Despite her cheerful expression, the dark background isolates her as she desperately bears the fruit and herself. The pomegranate and its juice is reminiscent of the heart and blood. This combined with her nudity depicts a sense of vulnerability.

About the Artist

Zoë Simpson is a 24-year-old artist from Memphis, TN. She doesn't recall a specific beginning to her art journey but always loved receiving art supplies for birthdays and doodling in class. Inspired by her grandmother's art-filled home, Zoë experiments with various mediums, particularly acrylic and watercolor painting, as well as mixed media. She also creates digital art and tattoo designs, aiming to pursue tattooing in the future.

In 2023, she won the Memphis Grizzlies Fan Art Contest, and her work was shared at the Fan Appreciation Game. Recently, she participated in the Memphis Artists for Gaza Charity Art Show and wishes to become more active in the local art community. Zoë is still developing her style.

To her, art is a powerful way to express inexpressible feelings. It captures deep emotions and can reflect joy or even whimsical interests. Art honors all feelings, whether they seem trivial or profound.