2026 | Collage, Acrylic and Resin on Wood | Original Framed Artwork
Availability is not an obligation.
In Not in Stock, contemporary artist Alissa Van Atta uses the familiar visual language of commercial barcodes to examine the expectations placed upon women to remain accessible, accommodating, and perpetually available to others.
Bold black barcode lines occupy the left side of a stark white composition, accompanied by a vertical sequence of numbers. Near the bottom, the softly handwritten words not in stock introduce an unexpectedly personal declaration within an otherwise impersonal system of inventory and commerce.
The phrase is familiar from retail environments. When a product is unavailable, the transaction ends. There is nothing to purchase, claim, or immediately acquire.
But when applied to feminine identity, the language takes on a more provocative meaning.
Women are frequently expected to make themselves available to the demands, desires, and expectations of others. Their time, attention, emotional labor, bodies, and affection can be treated as resources that should remain accessible simply because someone wants them.
Not in Stock challenges that assumption.
The barcode suggests a system in which objects are classified, monitored, and made available for consumption. The handwritten declaration disrupts that system, establishing a boundary that cannot be overcome through demand.
The deliberate simplicity of the composition reinforces the message. Its black-and-white palette strips away decorative distractions, while the contrast between mechanically precise graphics and imperfect handwriting introduces a distinctly human presence.
Created with collage, acrylic, and resin on wood, the artwork transforms the visual conventions of commercial labeling into a commentary on autonomy and personal agency. Its glossy surface echoes the polished presentation of consumer goods, further complicating the relationship between desirability and availability.
Part of Van Atta's The Price of Her collection, Not in Stock examines the ways women's identities and experiences are filtered through the language of commerce, ownership, and social expectations.
Where the collection's recurring barcode imagery suggests the assignment of monetary and cultural value, this work shifts the conversation toward access and entitlement.
A woman may be desirable without being available. She may be generous without being obligated. Her attention and affection are hers to offer—or withhold.
Minimal, ironic, and quietly confrontational, Not in Stock transforms an ordinary retail message into a declaration of personal boundaries.
Being wanted doesn't mean being available.
Artist: Alissa Van Atta
Title: Not in Stock
Year: 2026
Medium: Collage, Acrylic and Resin on Wood
Artwork Dimensions: 6 H × 6 W × 1 D inches
Framed Dimensions: 7 H × 7 W × 1.5 D inches
Original: One-of-a-kind mixed media artwork
Signed: Yes
Presentation: Black frame included
Collection: The Price of Her
Price: $195
Availability: Available
Not in Stock is the title and conceptual statement of this artwork. The original framed piece is available for purchase.
Original artwork by Alissa Van Atta. Carefully packaged for shipping to protect the frame and resin-finished surface.
2026 | Collage, Acrylic and Resin on Wood | Original Framed Artwork
Availability is not an obligation.
In Not in Stock, contemporary artist Alissa Van Atta uses the familiar visual language of commercial barcodes to examine the expectations placed upon women to remain accessible, accommodating, and perpetually available to others.
Bold black barcode lines occupy the left side of a stark white composition, accompanied by a vertical sequence of numbers. Near the bottom, the softly handwritten words not in stock introduce an unexpectedly personal declaration within an otherwise impersonal system of inventory and commerce.
The phrase is familiar from retail environments. When a product is unavailable, the transaction ends. There is nothing to purchase, claim, or immediately acquire.
But when applied to feminine identity, the language takes on a more provocative meaning.
Women are frequently expected to make themselves available to the demands, desires, and expectations of others. Their time, attention, emotional labor, bodies, and affection can be treated as resources that should remain accessible simply because someone wants them.
Not in Stock challenges that assumption.
The barcode suggests a system in which objects are classified, monitored, and made available for consumption. The handwritten declaration disrupts that system, establishing a boundary that cannot be overcome through demand.
The deliberate simplicity of the composition reinforces the message. Its black-and-white palette strips away decorative distractions, while the contrast between mechanically precise graphics and imperfect handwriting introduces a distinctly human presence.
Created with collage, acrylic, and resin on wood, the artwork transforms the visual conventions of commercial labeling into a commentary on autonomy and personal agency. Its glossy surface echoes the polished presentation of consumer goods, further complicating the relationship between desirability and availability.
Part of Van Atta's The Price of Her collection, Not in Stock examines the ways women's identities and experiences are filtered through the language of commerce, ownership, and social expectations.
Where the collection's recurring barcode imagery suggests the assignment of monetary and cultural value, this work shifts the conversation toward access and entitlement.
A woman may be desirable without being available. She may be generous without being obligated. Her attention and affection are hers to offer—or withhold.
Minimal, ironic, and quietly confrontational, Not in Stock transforms an ordinary retail message into a declaration of personal boundaries.
Being wanted doesn't mean being available.
Artist: Alissa Van Atta
Title: Not in Stock
Year: 2026
Medium: Collage, Acrylic and Resin on Wood
Artwork Dimensions: 6 H × 6 W × 1 D inches
Framed Dimensions: 7 H × 7 W × 1.5 D inches
Original: One-of-a-kind mixed media artwork
Signed: Yes
Presentation: Black frame included
Collection: The Price of Her
Price: $195
Availability: Available
Not in Stock is the title and conceptual statement of this artwork. The original framed piece is available for purchase.
Original artwork by Alissa Van Atta. Carefully packaged for shipping to protect the frame and resin-finished surface.
