A surreal exploration of femininity through bold figurations and vibrant color.
Reimagining the Female Form
Ana Benaroya brings her distinctive lens on femininity to a new solo exhibition, Eternal Flame, opening September 17 at New York City’s Flag Art Foundation. Known for her surrealist reimaginings of the female body across painting, works on paper, and monotypes, Benaroya continues her inquiry into how women have been depicted—both historically and in contemporary culture.
Vivid Characters and Emotional Depth
The exhibition features a series of muscular, towering women rendered in dynamic color. “Heat Wave” captures two powerful figures with sparkly eyes set against a fiery backdrop, while “The Blonde Waterfall” presents an intimate close-up of a yellow-haired woman holding a matching rose, balancing realism with mystery. Each work probes at intimacy and identity, leaving viewers to contemplate how femininity is defined and perceived.
Challenging Representation
Benaroya’s practice centers on asking whether women’s bodies can ever be viewed without the weight of sexualization. Eternal Flame situates this ongoing exploration within a strikingly surreal, colorful framework—offering both critique and celebration. The exhibition runs September 17 at the Flag Art Foundation in Chelsea.
