Lilly Stocks

School of Isolated and Distance Education

Year 12

Oil on canvas, acrylic and air dry clay

55 x 65 cm, 60 x 30 cm, 60 x 50 cm

My artwork explores the raw tension between control and vulnerability, drawn from personal experiences with anxiety and self-doubt. Using my own teeth—symbols of lifelong insecurity—I reflect on the fear of growing up and losing control. Two canvases show my mouth forced open by faceless hands and cold dental tools, representing the invasive pressure of societal and self-imposed expectations. The displaced front tooth speaks to a loss of identity, questioning how much of ourselves we sacrifice to meet unrealistic standards. Through this unsettling imagery, I express the emotional weight of growing up under constant scrutiny.