She was everything they imagined. But was any of it hers?
The Woman They Had in Mind (2026) is an original mixed-media resin collage by contemporary artist Alissa Van Atta, exploring femininity, identity, and the expectations imposed upon women.
A partially obscured female figure emerges from a richly layered composition of vintage fashion imagery, floral fragments, expressive acrylic paint, and graphic Ben-Day dots. Deep magenta, vivid orange, and soft blue interrupt a smoky gray background, while layers of resin bring depth and visual complexity to the surface.
Her face is simultaneously present and disappearing. Decorative patterns and cultural references compete to define her, suggesting the many ways a woman's identity can be constructed through beauty standards, social expectations, and the desires of others.
The artwork's irregular, hand-carved silhouette extends this idea beyond the image itself. Refusing the conventional boundaries of a rectangular canvas, the figure occupies a space that is uniquely her own.
The juxtaposition of nostalgic imagery and contemporary mark-making creates tension between beauty and disruption, individuality and conformity, visibility and erasure.
Both seductive and unsettling, The Woman They Had in Mind invites viewers to question how much of the woman they see belongs to her—and how much has been imagined for her.
An original, one-of-a-kind artwork that challenges the expectations of femininity while celebrating the complexity of individual identity.
Artist: Alissa Van Atta
Title: The Woman They Had in Mind
Year: 2026
Medium: Collage, resin, and acrylic on carved panel
Dimensions: 46 H × 34 W × 1.5 D inches
Style: Contemporary figurative mixed media
Format: Original irregular-shaped panel
Originality: One-of-a-kind original artwork
Availability: Available
Display indoors away from prolonged direct sunlight, excessive heat, and moisture. Clean gently with a soft, dry cloth. Avoid abrasive cleaners on the resin surface.
She was everything they imagined. But was any of it hers?
The Woman They Had in Mind (2026) is an original mixed-media resin collage by contemporary artist Alissa Van Atta, exploring femininity, identity, and the expectations imposed upon women.
A partially obscured female figure emerges from a richly layered composition of vintage fashion imagery, floral fragments, expressive acrylic paint, and graphic Ben-Day dots. Deep magenta, vivid orange, and soft blue interrupt a smoky gray background, while layers of resin bring depth and visual complexity to the surface.
Her face is simultaneously present and disappearing. Decorative patterns and cultural references compete to define her, suggesting the many ways a woman's identity can be constructed through beauty standards, social expectations, and the desires of others.
The artwork's irregular, hand-carved silhouette extends this idea beyond the image itself. Refusing the conventional boundaries of a rectangular canvas, the figure occupies a space that is uniquely her own.
The juxtaposition of nostalgic imagery and contemporary mark-making creates tension between beauty and disruption, individuality and conformity, visibility and erasure.
Both seductive and unsettling, The Woman They Had in Mind invites viewers to question how much of the woman they see belongs to her—and how much has been imagined for her.
An original, one-of-a-kind artwork that challenges the expectations of femininity while celebrating the complexity of individual identity.
Artist: Alissa Van Atta
Title: The Woman They Had in Mind
Year: 2026
Medium: Collage, resin, and acrylic on carved panel
Dimensions: 46 H × 34 W × 1.5 D inches
Style: Contemporary figurative mixed media
Format: Original irregular-shaped panel
Originality: One-of-a-kind original artwork
Availability: Available
Display indoors away from prolonged direct sunlight, excessive heat, and moisture. Clean gently with a soft, dry cloth. Avoid abrasive cleaners on the resin surface.
