Subscribe to our newsletter for updates on pieces in exhibition and to be notified when they become available for sale. These will be completely one-of-a-kind artworks, but Atelier Six reserves the right to produce limited edition prints and greeting cards and other products from the original piece, with a percentage of sales donated to the artist’s chosen charity. 
 
***
 
"Matryoshka: In Her Image" is a bold reflection on the inherited and imposed identities that women carry through generations. The Russian dolls, nestled within each other, embody not just the physical lineage of mother, daughter, and granddaughter but the spiritual and genetic imprints passed down through time.
 
Paying homage to Frida Kahlo’s defiant embrace of her natural, unfeminine eyebrows, this piece challenges the rigid beauty standards and societal expectations that have long been placed upon women. The lace woven into the canvas symbolizes the traditional pressures to marry, to conform, to be seen as virtuous and good. The red surrounding the dolls acts as a kind of wedding veil, reflecting the primary color of many cultural weddings and underscoring the societal expectations tied to marriage. The smallest doll, also draped in a red wedding veil, poignantly represents the millions of girls globally who are forced into marriage before they reach adulthood—one in five girls are married before the age of 18, often with dire consequences for their health, education, and future.
 
This painting is also a deeply personal tribute, honouring the memory of my dear friend Surinder, who had a special love for Russian dolls. Through these layers, the work speaks to the complex journey of women, who are shaped by both their mothers’ legacies and society’s relentless expectations. It also calls attention to the global crisis of child marriage, a practice that must be eradicated to protect the futures of countless young girls.
 
Matryoshka: In Her Image invites the viewer to confront these inherited narratives and consider the strength required to carve out one’s own identity amidst them. It is a celebration of the resilience found within every woman, a challenge to the societal norms that continue to define us, and a call to action to end the harmful practice of child marriage.
 
Footnote:
 
The statistics on child marriage are drawn from data provided by UNICEF and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Approximately one in five girls globally is married before the age of 18, with even higher rates in the least developed countries  . Organizations like UNICEF and UNFPA are actively working to end child marriage through various programs and initiatives aimed at empowering girls and enforcing laws against this practice. For more information and to support the cause, please visit the websites of UNICEF and UNFPA.
 
Size: 16" x 20”
Media: oils, acrylic, gold leaf 
Format: Canvas 100% Cotton
Frame: Unframed
 
Original Art: This item is a 100% original painting, hand-painted by Atelier Six. It is signed by the artist and dated on verso which guarantees its authenticity and artistic value.
 
Protected Packaging: Your artwork will be carefully packaged to ensure its safe arrival, striking a balance between reliability and environmental responsibility.