HER MUSES
Curator & Producer
June 3 - June 5, 2022
“You can know more about a woman than you can about a goddess.” - Francine Prose
The modern term of the muse refers to a person or personified force that is the source of inspiration for a creative process of an artist. Historically, the artist-muse dynamic has been a gendered and utilitarian practice, with women lending their likeness to male artists, only to disappear in the final artwork. Serena Monet is both a selector of muses and a champion of women. As a pencil artist, she creates portraits of women who inspire her and whom she honors by portraying them with precision. Each subject she selects through her online discoveries embody a natural power, individuality and sensuality that resonate beyond the digital landscape. Serena recognizes these characteristics as the divine feminine becoming fully realized and communicating a timeless message in ephemeral space. Her delicate drawings are intensified by a contrasty yet soft style that captures the tenderness of natural body movement, skin, and textures that interact with the quality of graphite pencil on paper. The exhibition presents twenty drawings and an installation of the artist drawing a selection of ‘live muses’. Monet will complete six new drawings in the space throughout the three-day exhibition. The exhibition is hosted by curator Natashia Betancourt at the project space for her eponymous gallery NXT1 from June 3rd - 5th.