Constructing Identity: The Self-Portrait

  • In today’s modern society there is such an abundance of social media that people begin to develop an online identity. This identity portrays who we really want to be and who we want others to think we are. Although, in reality this is not who we truly are. We have this unrealistic image in our heads of what we should look like or how we should dress based off what we see on the internet. As a result, we only post edited images of ourselves at our best because we do not want the world to see us look fat, unhappy or ugly. This then creates a whole other identity that is not who we are in real life. In real life we are human. We have double chins, we fart, we poop and pick our noses and life is not always perfect. For my project I decided to portray the unflattering, real life identity that I live. In my portrayal there is no performance being put on, I do not wear makeup, I do not dress up and I do not pose for the camera. I portray my everyday real life and the identity that social media does not see.

Julia McGillicuddy is a first year Communications Design major at Parsons School of Design. She works with a wide range of mediums but prefers pen and pencil drawings. Julia’s art is heavily influenced by her life and her struggle with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. In her works, Julia, channels the hyperactivity contained in her mind through intricate hand drawn details and patterns. Color is prominently involved in McGillicuddy’s pieces as a display of her bight and bold personality. Julia finds beauty in the process of creating art. Her pieces regularly incorporate handwriting and notes to demonstrate the process of each piece as a whole. She draws her artistic inspiration from Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Frida Kahlo and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Julia is primarily known for her Horror Vacui themed pieces involving denim jackets, denim pants and canvas shoes. American b. Boston, Massachusetts. Based in New York City, New York.

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