She is Beautiful as Well as Terrifying

Medusa, a mortal with two monstrous Gorgon sisters, was born with a lovely face and glorious hair. Her beauty tempted the sea god, Poseidon who impregnated her in Athena’s temple. Athena, goddess of wisdom and war, was enraged. She transformed Medusa’s hair into serpents. Medusa became so hideous that the mere sight of her turned a viewer to stone.

The Greek myth of Medusa has intrigued artists for centuries resulting in varied portrayals of the Gorgon. Some depict her as terrifying, some as beautiful. My work is based on the sculpture Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Renaissance artist, Benvenuto Cellini. This sculpture, located in Florence, Italy, captivated me even more than the nearby copy of David by Michaelangelo. Cellini’s Perseus with the Head of Medusa represents the Florentine story of politics, danger, triumph and dark beauty.

Some fun facts: Medusa is on the logo used by Italian luxury fashion designer, Gianni Versace. Medusa has also been considered a feminist icon. She has been viewed as a symbol of female rage. Her curse serves as protection against the male gaze.

Check out my blog entry which describes how I made ceramic tiles of Medusa by clicking here

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Medusa, oil and wax on board, wood (sand mold), metal. Approx. 38” x 23” x 6”.

The head of Medusa can spin around in this work. The back is a reflective surface resembling a mirror.