Self Portrait by Brianna Gittos

This self portrait is built around a private tension, the pull between wanting to be truly seen and the instinct to close off from the world. Brianna Gittos has depicted herself curled inward, suggesting vulnerability and self-containment. The figure fills the canvas entirely, the edges pressing in, adding to the atmosphere of confinement and crowding.

In contrast, a neon outline separates the figure from the background, painted with confidence. Her gaze meets the viewer directly, knowing, accepting, at ease with the discomfort it holds. “Bold colour is central to my practice,” Gittos says, “and it felt impossible to paint myself without it. It brings a strength and presence that reflects how I see myself beneath that vulnerability.”