Meg Porteous offers a contemporary take on the artistic tradition of self-portraiture with this confronting and intimate photograph. In it, we see her performing two roles: artist and muse. The awkwardness of her position reflects the complexities that exist around representations of the female body as a muse throughout art history. Most often, it has been depicted by men and intended for a largely male audience. Here, Meg takes agency of her own image, forcing us to reconsider the acts of seeing and of being seen.

(Perilous: Unheard Stories from the Collection, 6 August 2022- )