She grew up bullied for who she was — Asian, adopted, queer. Now she fights so others don’t have to hide.

Amazin is the first icon in my new series Gladiators. A series about athletes who fight where no medals are won.

With Gladiators, I want to turn icons into mirrors — reflections of strength, fragility, and endurance. Captured in paint. Together, they spell one truth: the weapon does not give strength, the wound does.

Oil, acrylics, metallics, charcoal on Arche Huiles, 80 x 120 cm