Selina Roman's new exhibition "Abstract Corpulence" at the Sarasota Art Museum presents abstract photographs created from tightly cropped images of her own body, wearing pastel bodysuits and tights to transform her physique into rolling landscapes and modernist-inspired compositions. The show runs from August 31, 2025 through March 29, 2026, featuring works from her XS series, including pieces like 'Ballhead, 2021' and 'Blockhead, 2025', printed as dye sublimation on aluminum. Roman, a Tampa-based artist and former print journalist, was named a 2024 Critical Mass Top 50 Artist for this series.
The exhibition matters because it offers a fresh, subversive take on femininity and beauty standards, using the artist's own body as both subject and formal abstraction to challenge traditional notions of the female form. By transforming stomachs, thighs, and hips into colorful, abstract landscapes, Roman invites viewers to reconsider the politics of size and the pressures women face regarding their bodies. The show positions the Sarasota Art Museum as a venue for contemporary photography that engages with social issues, while highlighting Roman's innovative approach to self-portraiture and abstraction.