Cringe

Cringe, 2022
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 18 in. (61 x 46 cm)

A visceral reaction captured in bold, unfiltered strokes—Cringe distills the precise moment discomfort turns unbearable. The subject’s contorted expression, wide and unsettled eyes, and tense posture suggest an overwhelming urge to escape. Her outward gaze betrays detachment; she is present, but only in body—her mind already retreating.

The fragmented, almost cubist rendering of her face amplifies the discord within, mirroring the fractures of a conversation she no longer wishes to entertain. The piece speaks to the universal experience of secondhand embarrassment, irritation, and the silent negotiations we make between politeness and self-preservation.