22/01/2026
“I Can Buy Myself Flowers”
50cm x 60cm
Acrylic on framed Tasmanian Oak Canvas
I Can Buy Myself Flowers reflects a generational shift in how women understand autonomy, love, and self-worth. Inspired by the song by Miley Cyrus, the work speaks to a contemporary acceptance that women are no longer defined by their relationship status, and that independence whether emotional, social, and financial, can be a source of dignity rather than deficiency.
The painting also looks backward. In my grandmother’s generation, divorce was deeply stigmatised, and economic dependence often limited women’s choices, even within harmful or unhappy marriages. At ninety years old, my Nan represents a generation of women whose strength was often quiet, enduring, and unseen.
This work does not reject love or partnership. Instead, it honours relationships where two people meet in mutual respect, care, and equality, while also acknowledging that fulfillment does not require endurance at the cost of selfhood.
The floral forms in this work are deliberately bold and expressive, emerging from a darkened background. The darkness is intentional, it sits behind the blooms as something acknowledged rather than denied. Here, it becomes a space of contrast, resilience, and choice.
This work is dedicated to women past and present who have navigated fragile or violent domestic spaces. It offers recognition, hope, and a quiet affirmation: that autonomy is not selfish, survival is not weakness, and choosing honour and respect, whether in love or in solitude, is a rightful act.
This work will be exhibited in “Powerful Women (Kin)” curated by at Coral Street Art Space Victor Harbor from Friday 6th February- Saturday 28th March.
