Shari Pedowitz
2017
acrylic on canvas
20 x 16 inches
 
She Persisted by Shari Pedowitz is a spunky act of feminist reclamation, an abstract self-portrait painted in shades of feminine power. The luminous pink is a smile of defiance — an unapologetic embrace of femininity that refuses to be confined by patriarchal standards. It shimmers with inner strength, resilience forged through countless challenges, a bold "yes, and" to all the times women were told to shrink, to be silent, to be less.
 
The joyful purple and deep indigo blue ground her painting, symbolizing the wisdom passed down through generations of women who fought for their voices to be heard, for their rights to be honored. These colors carry the weight of collective experience, the knowledge embedded in our bones. As they merge with glittering golds and pinks, a soft, sensual blend emerges, speaking to the inherent power of feminine duality. We are both/and, not either/or. We are soft and strong, nurturing and fierce, vulnerable and invincible.
 
Shari’s textures playfully defy convention, infusing her painting with a whimsical spirit that refuses to be tamed. A confident sensuality permeates her canvas, embodying the reclamation of our bodies, desires, and power. The feminine form becomes a source of beauty, strength, and independence, celebrated in all its glory.
 
She Persisted is more than a self-portrait; it is a manifesto. A reminder that our power lies in being unapologetically, fully ourselves. A celebration of the feminine spirit in all its complexity. It sparks a surge of recognition, a solidarity with every woman who has persisted, is persisting, and will continue to persist. A battle cry, a love letter to the feminine spirit, and a promise that we will never give up.