Polly Nor makes the kind of art that you can’t look away from — and you won’t want to. The contemporary artist has gained a lot of popularity on Instagram so, if you’re not following her already, you really should be. The digital artwork Polly Nor makes is important and groundbreaking; whether you identify as an “art lover”, as a woman (or none) it’s worth taking a look at. The main focus of her art is “women and their demons,” female identity, and self-esteem. Translation: these drawings aren’t necessarily “pretty” or comfortable to look at — but they’re real. It’s hard to find works of art that don’t represent women in a way that isn’t aesthetically pleasing, or ethereal and beautiful. Polly Nor’s work does exactly this, as she represents women as women are, and not an idealized version of how society encourages us to be.
From scrolling through her Instagram feed, you can tell right away that Nor’s artwork might be colorful and represent women and demons in cartoonish ways, but the themes of her pieces are real and jarring. Many of her pieces center around women in their bedrooms, lying in their beds in their underwear, and the best part: body hair! It’s so common in art and media forms for women to be airbrushed to perfection, with not a trace of stubble or blemishes on any part of their bodies. As women, we know fully well that ingrown hairs, unibrows, and hairy legs and armpits are inevitable, regardless of your grooming preferences. Again, Polly Nor’s artwork is not necessarily pleasant to look at — but it’s the kind of art that will stay in your mind for weeks to come. In her art, women are drawn with sagging breasts, stomach rolls, and, of course, body hair. Their faces are not perfectly done up with makeup, or with large, innocent eyes and full, pouting lips. In fact, in some pieces, they look downright evil with pointed teeth and pained expressions on their faces. Nor captures the struggles of being a woman, including depicting issues as common as heartbreak, bad decisions, and periods.
A red-faced demon is another theme of Nor’s artwork, often showed fighting women, controlling them, or wrapping themselves around their bodies. This is another reminder that our demons belong to us, and they consume us — so we might as well embrace them. One exceptionally introspective piece shows a young woman, in an old-looking bra (because no, most women don’t just walk around their house in matching Victoria’s Secret lingerie sets) and blemishes on her arms taking a mirror selfie with a demon holding her. While, yes, Nor’s artwork can and should be interpreted in whatever way the viewer chooses to, the message behind this piece is fairly self-explanatory: Men are often our demons. The beauty behind Nor’s artwork lies not just in the detail and craft of her pieces, but their relatability.
It’s so important that women and female creatives support and appreciate the works of female artists. So, let’s all choose to be supporters and patrons of feminist art! Follow Polly Nor on Instagram here, tell your friends and your friends’ friends to follow her, and buy her art from her website!