Self Portrait

This self-portrait was painted in December 2018, in the aftermath of a deeply personal incident that left me feeling threatened, exposed, and altered. Rather than documenting the event itself, I painted what remained inside my body and mind once the shock had settled.

The figure appears fragmented and open - a reflection of vulnerability, hyper-awareness, and the instinct to protect oneself while still seeking growth. The absence of pupils turns the gaze inward, prioritising intuition over observation. The surrounding foliage is both shelter and witness, symbolising survival, grounding, and the quiet resilience that follows rupture.

I painted this work as an act of processing and reclaiming. It holds the complexity of fear, softness, and strength existing simultaneously. This piece is not about what happened - it is about what it meant to continue existing, feeling, and becoming after.

Self Portrait remains one of my most intimate works - a visual record of endurance, presence, and the courage to remain open.

Original 2018 oil painting by Adeela Omar.

20" x 28" canvas

Sold framed