“Red Food” represents a vibrant, bountiful supply of food and water. Still life paintings with food have been an artistic genre for centuries, capturing a record of what people eat. I think of old still life paintings as illustrating exclusivity and luxury, something for the wealthy. “Red Food” shows a scene out of reach for people who face food insecurity, a distortion of the food chain. The color red evokes a threat to the food supply, ranging from the chemicals in our food to the use of famine as a weapon. The availability of food and water in today’s world is determined by those who have the power to control what to grow, who profits and who survives. My aim is to prompt reflection about how food on the table should be made more equitable for all.

“Red Food” was shown as part of the “Food Chain” exhibit at The Drawing Room gallery in San Francisco in 2024.