Hear Me by Alia El-Bermani

“Hear Me depicts a young African-American woman in profile with her eyes clenched shut, mouth agape and the word ‘roar’ scrawled into her short, side hairs. She stands in front of a decorative off-white, richly patterned fabric that suggests opulence, yet is wrinkled, flawed and fraying at the bottom. My intentional play on words in paint is an effective reminder of the current culture we find ourselves where women continue to fight for equity in all realms of life.” - ALIA EL-BERMANI