Melissa Gianesini My work explores themes of empowerment,
identity, and resilience through bold imagery and vibrant color. Each piece
highlights individuals reclaiming their strength in unexpected ways while
balancing softness with defiance.
Growing up Catholic, I noticed early how the
religion I was raised in placed men in positions of higher power and justified
the silencing of other voices, particularly those of women. Even as a child in
a paternalistic environment, I felt deeply that every person, regardless of
gender, deserved to be treated as an equal. This belief deeply shaped the way I
view the stories and symbols I was taught.
The story of Adam and Eve, often used to
portray women as the source of sin, became something I chose to reinterpret. In
my work, the apple, traditionally tied to temptation, becomes a symbol of
knowledge, power, and self-ownership. To me, Eve’s choice was not a fall from
grace but an act of courage, curiosity, and claiming autonomy.
Through this lens, my paintings challenge
traditional narratives and celebrate the complexity, strength, and agency of
women and all individuals seeking equality.