Perceive Me Keeps Growing

"Perceive Me" isn't slowing down – it's expanding.

After The Other Art Fair in 2024 reminded me why this work matters, I realized this project has become bigger than just my own artistic practice. It's become infrastructure. A movement. A way for artists and participants to experience what it means to be truly seen without judgment.

And now we're heading to the Startup Art Fair, February 28-March 1st, 2026.

We'll have two spaces: one showing new collaborative work, and another where we'll do live nude portrait sessions. This fair represents something important – Perceive Me finding its place in larger conversations about art, bodies, and what it means to take up space unapologetically.

The project has evolved in ways I didn't expect. It's not just about challenging beauty standards anymore (though it's definitely still that). It's about creating actual experiences where people discover what happens when they're perceived without the usual cultural baggage. The feedback from participants tells me we're onto something real – people leave these sessions fundamentally changed.

"To honor ourselves, our soul shells, the skin that houses our true selves is a gift. We wear these parts on the outside and we walk through life being judged by the way others may view them. Rather than absorbing the judgment - those of us who stepped onto that podium... opened ourselves up to love instead." ~Model from the public who shared their experience from our first set of sessions at The Other Art Fair in Santa Monica in April.

I'm also thinking about where this work goes next. The collection of over 100 collaborative artworks is growing, and I'm committed to keeping it together as one body of work – documentation of what happens when artists from different backgrounds, styles, and perspectives all look at the same body with genuine curiosity and respect. Eventually, this collection will find its permanent home in a museum, but for now it's actively working, traveling, sparking conversations.

My body keeps changing – getting older, recovering from cancer, navigating an eating disorder, gaining weight. I need "Perceive Me" more than ever, and I'm learning that many others do too.

Transcending the Pale Blue Dot - Kristine Schomaker Collaboration with Mary Allan

JOIN US

We're building a community of artists who want to be part of this work. There are two ways to participate:

Become a "Perceive Me" Collaborator Work with me to create representational figurative artwork of my plus-sized body. You don't have to live in LA – I can send you photos. The process is straightforward: sign up, we talk through email, Zoom, or in person, you create the work, then send it to me framed and ready to hang. Your work travels in exhibitions, gets included in the catalog, and becomes part of the permanent Perceive Me collection and archives. You retain full copyright to your work.

More info and sign up to be a collaborator

The Other Art Fair 2024

Join the "Perceive Me" Drawing Cohort Be part of the social practice component of Perceive Me by drawing participants during our live nude portrait sessions. There's no charge to sign up. Artists receive 50% of sales from any drawings sold. This is where the transformative magic happens – where participants experience being seen and artists practice perceiving without judgment.

Follow this link for more info

We're Also Looking For:

• Anyone who can help build wood shelves and hanging mechanisms for the Startup Art Fair

  
  

Email me at perceivemeart@gmail.com if any of this speaks to you.

This work matters. Our bodies matter. How we see each other matters.

Let's keep building this together.

Follow our new Instagram account @perceivemeart

Keep an eye in the coming days for a brand new website for Perceive Me too!!!

Collaboration with Heidi Brueckner

Collaboration with Mei Xian Qiu