Birthday blues, 2026
Mixed media
47,5 cm x 47,5 cm
Artist’s Statement
Birthday blues explores the quiet sadness that can accompany a birthday, a day traditionally associated with celebration, gratitude, and joy. The work reflects the internal dialogue between one’s present self and the child they once were: the child who imagined where life would be by a certain age, and the adult who must confront the distance between those expectations and reality. A blue figure wearing a birthday hat and holding a red balloon stands in this cake-inspired painting, rendered in varying shades of blue. The monochromatic blues embody feelings of disappointment, longing, and reflection, transforming a symbol of celebration into a space of emotional complexity. In contrast, the red balloon represents childhood innocence, hope, and the dreams carried from earlier years. Though the figure feels weighed down by the “birthday blues”, they continue to hold onto the balloon, suggesting a refusal to completely let go of their younger self and the possibilities that still remain. The painting acknowledges the grief that can surface when milestones arrive before personal goals have been reached. Yet it also offers a sense of resilience. Within the blues exists beauty, growth, and the opportunity to continue becoming. Birthday blues invites viewers to embrace these conflicting emotions and recognize that sadness and hope can coexist within the same celebration.
