2023 | Cold Wax and Mixed Media on Canvas with Embedded Neon Light | Original Illuminated Artwork
She doesn't need permission to wear the crown. And she certainly doesn't need permission to shine.
In Neon Queen, contemporary artist Alissa Van Atta brings together expressive portraiture, rich mixed-media textures, and actual neon illumination in a powerful exploration of feminine identity, visibility, and self-determination.
Emerging from a dark, heavily textured background, a woman's face occupies the center of the composition. Her eyes are closed, her lips gently parted, and one hand rests against her cheek. The intimate pose suggests contemplation and vulnerability, yet the dramatic scale of the portrait gives her an unmistakable presence.
Above her head, a loosely rendered crown of pink and gold rises from the painted surface, recalling the raw, expressive symbolism associated with Jean-Michel Basquiat. References to Ruth Bader Ginsburg introduce another dimension to the work, invoking the struggle for equality, the importance of women's rights, and the lasting influence of those who challenge established systems of power.
The crown becomes more than an ornamental symbol. It suggests authority, resilience, and the right to define one's own worth.
A vivid pink neon element interrupts the composition, curling over the woman's eye and descending along her face toward her neck. Its intense illumination contrasts with the smoky grays, deep blacks, weathered blues, and flashes of ochre and rust that surround the figure.
Unlike painted highlights, the neon produces its own light, extending the composition beyond the traditional boundaries of painting. It draws the viewer's attention across the portrait, creating a striking relationship between the physical artwork and the space surrounding it.
The use of cold wax and mixed media adds another dimension. Layered surfaces, scraped passages, and richly worked textures introduce a sense of history and imperfection, contrasting with the clean, electric brilliance of the neon.
This opposition between darkness and illumination becomes central to the work's emotional character.
The woman is neither a conventional portrait of feminine perfection nor a straightforward symbol of invincibility. Her closed eyes and introspective pose suggest an internal world that exists independently of the viewer, while the crown and luminous neon declare a presence that cannot easily be ignored.
Neon Queen considers the tension between vulnerability and strength, between being observed and possessing the authority to define oneself. Its references to feminist history and artistic rebellion suggest that power need not be quiet, conventional, or granted by someone else.
Part of Van Atta's Her City collection, the painting reflects an ongoing interest in women navigating environments shaped by visibility, identity, cultural expectations, and individual agency.
Dramatic, unconventional, and unapologetically commanding, Neon Queen occupies a space between painting, sculpture, and illuminated art.
The result is a portrait of feminine power that refuses to remain contained within the canvas.
Some women inherit crowns. Others make their own—and light them the hell up.
Artwork Details
Artist: Alissa Van Atta
Title: Neon Queen
Year: 2023
Medium: Cold Wax and Mixed Media on Canvas with Embedded Neon Light
Canvas Dimensions: 40 H × 30 W × 1.5 D inches
Framed Dimensions: 41 H × 31 W × 2 D inches
Weight: Approximately 12 lb, excluding shipping packaging
Original: One-of-a-kind illuminated painting
Signed: Yes
Framed: Yes
Collection: Her City
Price: $5,000
Status: Available
Current Location: Resurrection AVL, Asheville, North Carolina
Important Installation and Shipping Information
This original artwork incorporates an embedded neon lighting element and should be handled and installed with appropriate care.
Please contact the artist before purchasing to confirm availability, electrical and installation details, and suitable insured fine-art shipping arrangements. Due to the illuminated component, specialized protective packaging may be required.
Neon Queen is a unique original artwork, not a reproduction or conventional neon sign.
2023 | Cold Wax and Mixed Media on Canvas with Embedded Neon Light | Original Illuminated Artwork
She doesn't need permission to wear the crown. And she certainly doesn't need permission to shine.
In Neon Queen, contemporary artist Alissa Van Atta brings together expressive portraiture, rich mixed-media textures, and actual neon illumination in a powerful exploration of feminine identity, visibility, and self-determination.
Emerging from a dark, heavily textured background, a woman's face occupies the center of the composition. Her eyes are closed, her lips gently parted, and one hand rests against her cheek. The intimate pose suggests contemplation and vulnerability, yet the dramatic scale of the portrait gives her an unmistakable presence.
Above her head, a loosely rendered crown of pink and gold rises from the painted surface, recalling the raw, expressive symbolism associated with Jean-Michel Basquiat. References to Ruth Bader Ginsburg introduce another dimension to the work, invoking the struggle for equality, the importance of women's rights, and the lasting influence of those who challenge established systems of power.
The crown becomes more than an ornamental symbol. It suggests authority, resilience, and the right to define one's own worth.
A vivid pink neon element interrupts the composition, curling over the woman's eye and descending along her face toward her neck. Its intense illumination contrasts with the smoky grays, deep blacks, weathered blues, and flashes of ochre and rust that surround the figure.
Unlike painted highlights, the neon produces its own light, extending the composition beyond the traditional boundaries of painting. It draws the viewer's attention across the portrait, creating a striking relationship between the physical artwork and the space surrounding it.
The use of cold wax and mixed media adds another dimension. Layered surfaces, scraped passages, and richly worked textures introduce a sense of history and imperfection, contrasting with the clean, electric brilliance of the neon.
This opposition between darkness and illumination becomes central to the work's emotional character.
The woman is neither a conventional portrait of feminine perfection nor a straightforward symbol of invincibility. Her closed eyes and introspective pose suggest an internal world that exists independently of the viewer, while the crown and luminous neon declare a presence that cannot easily be ignored.
Neon Queen considers the tension between vulnerability and strength, between being observed and possessing the authority to define oneself. Its references to feminist history and artistic rebellion suggest that power need not be quiet, conventional, or granted by someone else.
Part of Van Atta's Her City collection, the painting reflects an ongoing interest in women navigating environments shaped by visibility, identity, cultural expectations, and individual agency.
Dramatic, unconventional, and unapologetically commanding, Neon Queen occupies a space between painting, sculpture, and illuminated art.
The result is a portrait of feminine power that refuses to remain contained within the canvas.
Some women inherit crowns. Others make their own—and light them the hell up.
Artwork Details
Artist: Alissa Van Atta
Title: Neon Queen
Year: 2023
Medium: Cold Wax and Mixed Media on Canvas with Embedded Neon Light
Canvas Dimensions: 40 H × 30 W × 1.5 D inches
Framed Dimensions: 41 H × 31 W × 2 D inches
Weight: Approximately 12 lb, excluding shipping packaging
Original: One-of-a-kind illuminated painting
Signed: Yes
Framed: Yes
Collection: Her City
Price: $5,000
Status: Available
Current Location: Resurrection AVL, Asheville, North Carolina
Important Installation and Shipping Information
This original artwork incorporates an embedded neon lighting element and should be handled and installed with appropriate care.
Please contact the artist before purchasing to confirm availability, electrical and installation details, and suitable insured fine-art shipping arrangements. Due to the illuminated component, specialized protective packaging may be required.
Neon Queen is a unique original artwork, not a reproduction or conventional neon sign.
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