The Inside Joke
La Mona
8.5” x 11”
Acrylic on Cardstock (Gel Plate)
2025
This is my latest painting titled "La Mona," an eight and a half by eleven inch acrylic painting and gel plate transfer on cardstock. The work depicts a chimpanzee with bright sparkling eyes, dressed in a yellow top and a wide brim straw hat. Painted in muted tones of blue and yellow, the image carries a playful yet reflective quality. For those who understand the inside joke behind the piece, it will bring a smile, but even beyond that context it offers a deeper commentary.
At its core, this painting speaks to our society’s ongoing obsession with social media validation and self presentation. We often create polished versions of ourselves to share with the world, forgetting that we are, in essence, evolved primates trying to make meaning of our existence. Through "La Mona," I wanted to explore that tension between authenticity and performance, reminding us to look past the masks we put on for others and reconnect with something more real.
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Private Collection