“This is a very old painting compared to some of my other portraits, created during a time when I was beginning to understand what it meant to live under the boot of men. Within the yellow bubble, you’ll notice a figure that’s part human, part cat—I wanted to convey a sense of wildness in her. Descending from the sky is a large, corporate dress shoe, complete with the kind of socks bankers wear.
“Many people interpret the yellow bubble as a protective barrier that she pushes up to shield herself, and I really appreciate that perspective. When I created it, my intention was different—I saw the lighter pastel colors as fragile, and imagined her being crushed rather than protected. For me, the bubble was simply color, not a shield.”
— Brandie Starr, April 2025
Media: acrylic paint on canvas
“This is a very old painting compared to some of my other portraits, created during a time when I was beginning to understand what it meant to live under the boot of men. Within the yellow bubble, you’ll notice a figure that’s part human, part cat—I wanted to convey a sense of wildness in her. Descending from the sky is a large, corporate dress shoe, complete with the kind of socks bankers wear.
“Many people interpret the yellow bubble as a protective barrier that she pushes up to shield herself, and I really appreciate that perspective. When I created it, my intention was different—I saw the lighter pastel colors as fragile, and imagined her being crushed rather than protected. For me, the bubble was simply color, not a shield.”
— Brandie Starr, April 2025
Media: acrylic paint on canvas
