Date of Graduation

Spring 2026

Degree

Master of Fine Arts in Visual Studies

Department

Art & Design

Committee Chair

Jina Seo

Abstract

The right to bodily autonomy and reproductive freedom is something I hold very close to my heart. Women who did not wish to embrace motherhood, or who grew beyond the walls of the hearth and home, have been far more often persecuted than praised. Over the past two years, I have created artwork borrowing the visual and material language of the Catholic church (along with personally relevant folklore) to elevate my freedom of choice and bodily autonomy in the face of religiously driven political oppression. Using a less frequently referenced organ from my reproductive system to represent my struggle against patriarchal structures helps me highlight inequality towards women. The fallopian tube is the locus of creation within a woman, making it the perfect form in which to represent reproductive freedom.

Keywords

feminism, sculpture, ornamentation, religion, iconography, womens rights

Subject Categories

Ceramic Arts | Interdisciplinary Arts and Media | Metal and Jewelry Arts | Sculpture

Copyright

© Kara L. Coonrod

Download

Open Access

Share

COinS