“Mending Myself, All by Myself” is a self-portrait, but it is not only about me.

A woman quietly stitches herself beneath an oversized mountain, tree, and cloud—each intentionally enlarged to represent the burdens, responsibilities, and uncertainties that can shape a lifetime. The act of mending becomes both literal and symbolic, reflecting the quiet, often invisible work of healing while continuing to move forward.

The painting rests within a hand-carved, 24k gold gilded frame shaped like a coffin. Both precious and finite, the frame reminds us of the fragility of life and the limited time we are given. It asks what we carry, what we survive, and what remains unresolved.

This piece reflects a reality many women live: the expectation to endure, to hold, to mend—often alone.”

-Humaira Abid