This illustration was created for a Dallas Observer cover story about transgender women in federal prison—specifically those housed with men and denied the ability to express their gender identity.
Cover art
I centered the piece around the concept of identity being both controlled and obscured. The jail bars serve not only as physical barriers but also as symbolic ones—limiting how she is allowed to be seen. Her imagined makeup is projected onto the bars, partially overlaying her face, representing a version of herself she’s not allowed to fully embody. The image highlights the emotional toll of being denied expression, autonomy, and visibility.
The magazine cover
Illustration in the article
Spot illustration of makeup
Online magazine: illustration and spot piece
CONCEPT OPTIONS
OPTION 1
Bars Makeover: The jail bars stand between her and her true self. They not only confine her physically, but also control how she appears to the world. Her wishful makeup overlays the bars, superimposed across her face. It’s a visual reminder of how her identity is controlled, and the harsh reality of being a trans woman denied that in jail.
OPTION 2
The Rainbow: From a small, high-set jail window, a rainbow filters into her cell, but the light turns to grayscale as it enters. The rainbow becomes a muted symbol of hope and identity.
OPTION 3
Reaching for Self-Expression: She stretches toward colorful makeup that hovers just beyond her reach. The jail bars keep her from it, holding her back from presenting herself to the world as she truly feels.
OPTION 4
Split Self: This is a quieter, more internal concept. Two versions of her sit back to back in a jail cell. One full of color and self-expression, the other in uniform, subdued and wishing for the freedom to be herself. It’s about the emotional divide between who she is and how she’s allowed to exist.
Additional personal image: Behind the jail bars in the cover art
