Roses Return

19″ x 13″ – Mixed smalti, gold, safety glass, dishes, black stone, fiberglass & tinted mortar

Roses Return is a portrait of fellow Julia Kay Portrait Party (JKPP) artist Rose, whose presence inspired me to explore the balance between strength and tenderness.

Her hair, constructed from stone, carries both literal and symbolic weight, suggesting resilience, endurance, and the burdens we all bear throughout life. Yet despite that weight, she remains poised and hopeful. Her colorful face is calm and steadfast, conveying both quiet confidence and inner strength.

Created as a companion piece to August Passion, this portrait revisits the same subject through a different emotional lens. While each work stands on its own, together they explore the many dimensions that can exist within a single person: the strength to carry life’s challenges and the grace to remain open to possibility.

For me, Roses Return is a reflection on resilience. It honors the remarkable ability to remain hopeful, compassionate, and fully oneself, even while carrying the weight of the world.

Rose is #57 in my ongoing Julia Kay Portrait Party (JKPP) series of contemporary artists.