Rid Of Me 

Troy Brooks made "Rid of Me" using oil on canvas to conjure a hauntingly beautiful image. The luminosity of the paint, built up in delicate layers, gives the figure an ethereal quality, as if she is emerging from a dream. Brooks engages with traditional painting techniques but infuses them with contemporary concerns. Look closely, and you’ll see how the smooth gradations of color create a porcelain-like pallor, reminiscent of classical portraiture, yet distinctly modern. Her collar, suggestive of bone, and the ghostly lace fabric she wears are all rendered with incredible precision, underscoring the amount of labor involved in the production process. These details evoke the fragility of life and beauty. Ultimately, Brooks challenges the traditional art world's distinctions by elevating imagery associated with commercial fashion illustration into the realm of fine art.