Nadia Murad

Artist Statement

This portrait is a piece of my ongoing "Layers of a Woman" series, a project born out of a desire to challenge the way our culture obsesses over icons. Too often, these icons reduce women to their looks or a narrow set of artistic abilities. But women like human rights activist, author, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nadia Murad defy those shallow constraints. Her story isn’t just one of survival—it's one of unimaginable strength, resilience, and a relentless commitment to her community after enduring horrors most can’t even fathom.

Icons, if we must have them, should represent something more. They should inspire us to aim higher, to recognize the depth and power within every woman. Nadia is the embodiment of going beyond the expected, beyond what anyone thought possible. She isn’t just a figure to admire; she’s a force that reshapes our understanding of what women can achieve

Through my work, I want women to take up more space—every chance I get, I push to make room for their stories, their strength, their impact. We’ve been confined for too long; it’s time we expand, take up space, and demand to be seen for all we are.