The Spin to Win triptych dissects the pervasive commodification of femininity within contemporary society and the pressure placed on women to conform to unrealistic beauty standards throughout their lives.

Beauty products, clothing, shapewear, figurines, and toys become the central characters in my work, acting as potent symbols of societal expectations.

The Spin to Win paintings utilize the carnival spinning wheel as a central motif. Divided into triptychs, each wheel portrays a specific stage in a woman's life: toddler, young adult, and mature woman. These playful yet sinister contraptions showcase the ever-present, age-specific beauty ideals marketed towards women. Products plastered on the wheels promise to maintain youth, a perfect figure, and an idealized, "princess-like" state.

The juxtaposition of vibrant acrylics, mimicking the commercial world's superficiality, with meticulously rendered oil paintings of the products, creates a sense of hyper-reality. This visual language emphasizes the constructed nature of beauty standards and the pressure to conform.

While the two-dimensional surface offers a platform for this exploration, the act of painting itself becomes a form of resistance. Through this process, I reclaim the narrative surrounding femininity, transforming these mass-produced objects into a critical commentary on societal pressures.

MARGARET MURPHY

MARGARET MURPHY