Alexia Kustner

“Resilience, to me, is the ability to remain flexible—to move forward and reinvent oneself, much

like a phoenix rising from the ashes. I was inspired by the androgynous angelic or guardian

figures often seen in Renaissance paintings, and I wanted to include such a presence as a silent

observer. This angel is juxtaposed with animal skulls. The skulls represent not only death, but

also the knowledge gained through survival.

The other paintings show a frozen moment captured by a photo in sepia tones. It is a moment of hope and

care. None of us know what the next moment brings. Colors and symbols suggest

danger or confusion is sometimes what awaits us and yet me move through it all.

This moment in time feels both isolating and primal. It reminds us that we must rely on ourselves while still

seeking comfort in community. The work reflects that tension between solitude, instinct, and connection.”

Alexia Kustner