Denial is a stage where the mind protects itself by refusing to fully process what has happened. It creates distance between the conscious and subconscious, allowing us to avoid what feels too overwhelming to face.

In this painting, I wanted to explore that tension—the split between what we choose not to see and what we instinctively know. The subject is blindfolded, physically turning away, yet surrounded by two vultures perched closely beside her. While she cannot see them, their presence is unavoidable.

The vultures symbolize an intuitive awareness—something deeper within us that recognizes the truth, even when we try to deny it. The full moon behind her represents heightened emotion and inner intensity, a force that amplifies what is already present beneath the surface.

The use of red throughout the piece reflects the emotional weight of grief, while the darkness surrounding the figure emphasizes isolation and internal conflict. This painting captures the quiet but powerful tension between avoidance and awareness.

Where I live, I’m high up in a building and we constantly have turkey vultures flying around. I’ve always loved vultures—I find them really fascinating. I’ll sit on my balcony and watch them, and the more I did that, the more interested I became in learning about them.

I also remember someone telling me that the first time they were close to vultures, they smelled really bad. When I was thinking about denial, I kept coming back to that idea—how even if she has a blindfold on, she can’t fully escape what’s around her. She may not be able to see it, but she can still sense it.

At the time I was creating this, there was also a full moon. I’ve always noticed how intense emotions can feel during that time, and I know a lot of people experience that too. It felt important to include, because even if she refuses to look at what’s happening, there’s still something inside her that knows the truth.