Nevus Venus

May 2026
5 ft x 3.5 ft
Oil paint on Canvas

Nevus Venus reimagines the tradition of the classical Venus through the lens of visible difference. The title draws from the Latin word naevus, meaning "birthmark," a reference to nevus flammeus; the medical term for a port-wine stain.
Inspired by Sarah, a mother of four living with a port-wine stain covering much of her body, this portrait challenges centuries of artistic ideals that equated flawless skin with beauty and virtue. Instead, the painting celebrates skin as a living record of identity, experience, and individuality. Through layered oil glazes and rich crimson tones, the birthmark becomes not something to conceal, but the visual heart of the composition; a symbol of warmth, vitality, and humanity. In this Venus, beauty is found not in perfection, but in authenticity.