My portrait of a breast cancer survivor was banned and removed from the spring show at the artist collective where my wife and I rent a studio. I was told there was a vote amongst several artists and the painting was deemed “not family friendly”. Of the many other nudes in the show, only my work was censored.

As you can see, this is not erotica. This is a literal figure study of an older woman who has had a mastectomy. I was holding that woman’s hand the day she was told she had cancer.

Why was this piece considered morally offensive? Because the model is not traditionally beautiful? Because reality is too harsh? Or are there implied subtexts to this piece simply because I am an obvious dyke?