Toppin, Ayn K., authorYust, Dave, 1939-, advisorCoronel, Patricia D., committee memberHall, Bruce, committee memberLehene, Marius, committee member2016-02-162016-02-162005http://hdl.handle.net/10217/170636Thematically, my paintings reflect the life long struggle of coming to terms with self-identity. The process of creating art enables me to navigate the complexities of identity while examining the connection this has to our emotional behavior. I use the figure as a tool to explore the space between self-actualization and self-presentation. Dualities, their balance and imbalance, make up the majority of the questions I address in my work. The primary examples are self/other, emotional/corporeal, private/public, sameness/difference, and reality/performance. I'm interested in challenging societal conditioning which teaches to disguise homosexuality and emotional expression, and question how this conflict constructs our self-identity and self-worth. My emotive response to these issues is the driving force behind my work. This thesis is a visual journey through the obscurity of existence, a search for a sense of recognition within oneself.masters thesesengCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.paintingdrawingText