Lily Foss

Untitled , Acrylic and procion dye on perle 3/2 cotton thread, 22” x 47”, October 2020    

     Through my weavings and research I am exploring issues concerning gender politics, identity, female labor, censorship and scopophilia centered around the male gaze. I chose to weave portraits of online sexworkers, specifically cam girls, because of the connection between technology and woven fabric as well as connecting issues of female labor in textiles and sex work. I am interested in the overlapping themes in art and sex work such as performativity and voyeurism as well as the portrayal of sex workers in art history. By using explicit imagery I want to challenge and explore the boundary where a naked body crosses the line between artistic and pornographic. While I began this project before the pandemic, since then online sexwork has dramatically increased popularity and conversations concerning sex workers have become even more important.

Instagram: @padmashae