In the heart of Kansas City, Missouri, an unexpected muse has inspired Will Cotton's latest series of large-scale paintings, "Between Instinct and Reason." The artist has found himself captivated by the story of Robin Rubash, a trans model and OnlyFans camgirl who has become an unlikely figurehead in his work.
Rubash's journey is one of transformation and self-discovery. Born into a conservative household, she struggled to find her place in the world before discovering her passion for art and performance. Her desire to express herself authentically led her to explore various personas online, including "Mermaid Hime Princess," which has become an integral part of her identity.
Cotton was drawn to Rubash's unique blend of gentleness and authority, as well as her captivating presence on social media. In his latest paintings, he has reimagined Rubash as a mermaid figurehead, offering a pink frosted cupcake to the Marlboro Man archetype. This unexpected pairing serves as a commentary on the intersection of traditional American mythologies with contemporary issues of identity and representation.
Rubash's friendship with fellow artist Peregrine Honig played a pivotal role in introducing her to Cotton. The two met through Honig, who had been working with Rubash at one of her life-drawing classes. Honig's guidance helped bridge the gap between traditional art practices and online personas, allowing Rubash to find her footing as an artist.
Honig's own journey has been marked by a desire to challenge conventional norms in the art world. Her experiences as a female artist in a male-dominated field have led her to explore themes of vulnerability and self-discovery. The "Ophrys" series, which features Rubash as the title figurehead, serves as a testament to their friendship and creative synergy.
Cotton's paintings not only reflect his fascination with Rubash but also underscore the complexities of identity and representation in contemporary America. By juxtaposing traditional American mythologies with modern trans icons, he is highlighting the need for greater inclusivity and diversity in the art world.
As the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art showcases "Raven Halfmoon: Ride or Die," a thought-provoking exhibition that elevates Indigenous women to positions of power, Cotton's work serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of representation and storytelling. Through his latest series, he is not only celebrating Rubash's unique spirit but also challenging our perceptions of American identity and mythological narratives.
In an era where online personas and social media have become integral parts of our lives, Cotton's paintings remind us that art can be a powerful tool for self-expression, storytelling, and connection. By reimagining the mermaid as a figurehead of strength and authority, he is inspiring us to rethink our assumptions about identity, representation, and the complexities of modern America.
Rubash's journey is one of transformation and self-discovery. Born into a conservative household, she struggled to find her place in the world before discovering her passion for art and performance. Her desire to express herself authentically led her to explore various personas online, including "Mermaid Hime Princess," which has become an integral part of her identity.
Cotton was drawn to Rubash's unique blend of gentleness and authority, as well as her captivating presence on social media. In his latest paintings, he has reimagined Rubash as a mermaid figurehead, offering a pink frosted cupcake to the Marlboro Man archetype. This unexpected pairing serves as a commentary on the intersection of traditional American mythologies with contemporary issues of identity and representation.
Rubash's friendship with fellow artist Peregrine Honig played a pivotal role in introducing her to Cotton. The two met through Honig, who had been working with Rubash at one of her life-drawing classes. Honig's guidance helped bridge the gap between traditional art practices and online personas, allowing Rubash to find her footing as an artist.
Honig's own journey has been marked by a desire to challenge conventional norms in the art world. Her experiences as a female artist in a male-dominated field have led her to explore themes of vulnerability and self-discovery. The "Ophrys" series, which features Rubash as the title figurehead, serves as a testament to their friendship and creative synergy.
Cotton's paintings not only reflect his fascination with Rubash but also underscore the complexities of identity and representation in contemporary America. By juxtaposing traditional American mythologies with modern trans icons, he is highlighting the need for greater inclusivity and diversity in the art world.
As the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art showcases "Raven Halfmoon: Ride or Die," a thought-provoking exhibition that elevates Indigenous women to positions of power, Cotton's work serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of representation and storytelling. Through his latest series, he is not only celebrating Rubash's unique spirit but also challenging our perceptions of American identity and mythological narratives.
In an era where online personas and social media have become integral parts of our lives, Cotton's paintings remind us that art can be a powerful tool for self-expression, storytelling, and connection. By reimagining the mermaid as a figurehead of strength and authority, he is inspiring us to rethink our assumptions about identity, representation, and the complexities of modern America.
. First off, I couldn't find any info on Will Cotton's latest series or his connection to Robin Rubash online. Like, at all. And what's up with OnlyFans camgirl being a "trans model" and not just saying she identifies as trans? You know how important accurate representation is in art, right?
. What's the story behind their friendship? Was it legit or did Cotton just pull her into his artist circle to get an "authentic" perspective on Rubash? Honig's own bio doesn't mention anything about working with Rubash at life-drawing classes... hmm.
. That's something we can all get behind. But let's be real, Cotton's work feels kinda like a publicity stunt to me 
. Can we trust his intentions here?
That's like, a pretty specific part of her life. Can we be sure that her story is being told accurately and without sensationalism?
Are their artworks really as "poignant" as they say? I mean, what's the context behind this Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art exhibition that's all about Indigenous women? Is it just another attempt to tokenize women's experiences for art's sake?
But isn't that kind of reductionist? I mean, can't there be more nuance in his storytelling? Shouldn't we be questioning the power dynamics at play here?
. Like, who would have thought a trans model on OnlyFans would be an inspiration for his art? But honestly, Rubash's journey is really interesting - from growing up in a conservative household to finding her passion in art and performance. And how she found this whole online persona thing that just clicked with Cotton's style... its like they were meant to meet 
.
.
, you know? He's taking this trans model, Rubash, and turning her into a mermaid or whatever - it's like he's saying, "Hey, we need to think outside the box when it comes to American mythology and identity." And I'm low-key here for it 
. Peregrine Honig bringing these two together is pure genius 
, she's definitely helping push the art world in the right direction 
. But what really gets me is how Cotton is using Rubash as a metaphor for self-discovery and finding one's place in the world - it's like, totally relatable 
. Can't wait to see more of this series unfold! 
and btw Peregrine Honig's role in this is everything, she's the one who brought them together 
i mean who wouldn't want to be inspired by someone who went from feeling lost in their conservative household to finding their passion for art and self-expression online? 
but seriously, I think Cotton's work is really cool because he's not afraid to challenge traditional American mythologies and explore new ideas about identity and representation...and i'm kinda curious, does anyone know more about Robin Rubash than just her art? 
. I mean, come on, Robin Rubash's story sounds like something out of a fictional novel, but I guess that's what happens when you take someone's life and spin it into art. And don't even get me started on the fact that Will Cotton is just rehashing old American mythologies with some trans icon thrown in for good measure 
. It's like they're trying to check off some boxes on their social justice bingo card without actually doing any real work.
He's taking this trans model and turning her into a mermaid icon - talk about a bold move! I think it's so cool that he's using her story to explore themes of identity, representation, and self-discovery. And let's be real, who wouldn't want to see the Marlboro Man holding a pink frosted cupcake? 
