Exposed

Exposed – Original Mixed Media Feminist Artwork on Paper by Erin McGrath Rieke

About this Artwork
Exposed is an 8 x 12 inch original mixed media artwork on archival paper created by Erin McGrath Rieke in 2021. This one-of-a-kind piece explores themes of womanhood, identity, vulnerability, and resistance through layered abstraction and figurative suggestion.

Constructed from upcycled art paper and multiple mixed media materials, the composition presents a faceless, bodiless female form reduced to the symbolic presence of bare breasts. Stripped of conventional identity, the figure becomes both anonymous and universal, confronting the viewer with questions about how women are seen, valued, and defined within cultural narratives shaped by power and expectation.

Through layered textures of acrylic, ink, pen, pastel, and oil, the surface carries emotional intensity and visual tension. The materials interact in expressive gestures and subtle marks that allow vulnerability and defiance to coexist within the composition. Rather than presenting a literal portrait, the work operates as a visual meditation on exposure itself. The figure becomes a symbol of both objectification and reclamation.

Created through an intuitive and layered process, Exposed reflects the artist’s exploration of personal and social identity through contemporary mixed media techniques. The abstracted form and fragmented surface invite viewers to question the roles imposed on women and to reconsider the boundaries between visibility, autonomy, and the gaze.

Though intimate in scale, the artwork holds a strong conceptual presence. Its layered materials and emotionally charged imagery make it a compelling piece for collectors interested in contemporary feminist art, mixed media works on paper, and socially reflective abstract expression.

Artwork Details
Artist: Erin McGrath Rieke
Title: Exposed
Year Created: 2021
Series: —
Medium: Mixed media on archival paper (acrylic, ink, pen, pastel, oil)
Artwork Size: 8 W x 12 H x 0.5 D in
Framed Size: 16 W x 20 H x 2 D in
Style: Abstract / Contemporary Mixed Media
Subject: Womanhood, identity, feminist expression
Original Artwork: One-of-a-kind
Frame: Included

Additional Information
Erin McGrath Rieke’s mixed media works often explore complex themes surrounding identity, vulnerability, and human experience. By layering materials and marks, she creates compositions that balance abstraction with symbolic narrative.

In Exposed, the use of upcycled paper and diverse media builds a tactile surface that mirrors the emotional complexity within the work. The piece becomes both critique and reclamation, challenging viewers to reflect on how women are perceived while reclaiming the power of representation through art.

The framed presentation expands the intimate work into a striking visual statement suitable for gallery walls, contemporary interiors, or collections focused on feminist and socially engaged art.

Collecting Original Artwork
Original mixed media works by Erin McGrath Rieke combine abstract expression, layered texture, and conceptual narrative. Exposed is a one-of-a-kind artwork that examines identity, vulnerability, and the evolving role of women through contemporary visual language.