TW: Sexual Assault

Tuesday, January 18th, 2022, I was raped. He was my boyfriend at the time and the person I thought would never hurt me. He broke me. For a long time, I was in pieces; I fell into a deep spiral and stopped doing the thing I loved most: art. I slowly picked up the parts of myself I lost and processed what happened through my art. This exhibit takes you through my emotions and my healing journey.

Teddy Graves is an artist from the small town of Huttig, Arkansas. Graves’ portfolio primarily features a balance of acrylic paintings and digital artworks. Graves specializes in self-portraits that explore complex mental health issues, such as depression, facial and body dysmorphia, insecurity, and trauma. Graves finds using art as a form of expression therapeutic and believes that art can convey more than words ever could. After completing the studio art capstone at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, Graves now attends Centenary College of Louisiana under a double major of studio art and arts management.